Hurricanes supporters rejoice, for the moment, at least. Not only is your team leading the New Zealand conference in the second half of the season.

This time last season the Highlanders were taking hits from all directions.

The Blues will have the services of Simon Hickey, should they choose, right up to the May 31 clash with the Hurricanes.

A couple of New Zealand teams made real statements this weekend - the Blues and the Highlanders - and in completely different ways.

Their form remains a concern but the number of Chiefs ruled out through concussion represents an additional headache for Dave Rennie.

The Western Force were left singing in the rain after producing their trademark grit in a 15-9 win over the Bulls in Saturday night's Super Rugby clash in Perth.

Blues captain Luke Braid's injured shoulder is likely to keep him out of the next game against the Reds.

The Queensland Reds are poised to rush Wallabies breakaway Liam Gill back from injury as they attempt to dig their way out of a deepening Super Rugby hole.

In a topsy-turvy weekend that delivered an unexpected win for the Highlanders and a royal thumping for the Chiefs, it was arguably the resting Crusaders who were the biggest winners.

Auckland rugby fans say superstar Dan Carter would be a crowd-pleaser if he signed for the Blues, but his deep Canterbury roots will be hard to sever.

The sad business of Benji Marshall's failed code-hop has dangerously sharpened the focus on Blues coach John Kirwan, writes Paul Lewis.

The next fortnight for the Chiefs will be about surviving rather than thriving in an increasingly crowded New Zealand conference.

Richie McCaw is poised for a return to the Crusaders next week, an addition which will boost the team's increasingly competitive loose forward mix.

When Daniel Carter finishes his sabbatical towards the tail end of the Super 15, they should steer the All Black towards playing for the Blues.

John Kirwan labelled last night's victory over the Waratahs as a critical one for the Blues as a franchise.

On a day of remembrance it was fitting that Jerome Kaino provided so many evocative glimpses of his former self.

The Reds have put Super Rugby's form playmaker Beauden Barrett in the cross-hairs as they aim to end a 16-year curse against the Hurricanes.

Join us here for today's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Blues and the Waratahs from Eden Park in Auckland.

The Crusaders' No10 has been the form first-five of the past few weeks of Super Rugby. So well has he played, in fact, that Steve Hansen and his brains trust could do worse than pencil him in to the All Black squad for the June series against England.

No one should feel at ease, least of all the Blues today, when Israel Folau is primed for action.

It has been the same problem that has stalled their season but the Chiefs hope a difference in personnel can finally amend their lineout troubles.