Simon Hickey is raw, likely to make a few critical mistakes and run down some dead alleys.

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.

Crusaders utility back Adam Whitelock is the surprise addition to the New Zealand Sevens squad for the World Series tournaments in Glasgow and London next month.

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.

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.

Face it, people: there is no escaping history today. Even that opening sentence is now in the past and you're still in the same paragraph. So, really history is always just behind you. History is time's version of stalking.

The description of a developing Blues first-five as a player with "X-factor" should probably start alarm bells following the Benji Marshall experiment.

After ten rounds of Dream Team Fantasy Super Rugby, it seems like the perfect time to point out which players are trending upward and which aren’t worth your precious millions in the game.

Benji Marshall's rugby union experiment is likely to cost him $2 million, with the player set to return to Australia as soon as tomorrow to finalise a budget conscious NRL comeback.

Simon Hickey's experience running the cutter at the ailing Blues should stand him in good stead as the skipper of the New Zealand Under-20s in June's Junior World Championship.

Benji Marshall saved his best performance for the Blues until the end. There were smiles and laughter yesterday at Eden Park in what became a eulogy for his failed rugby experiment.

Hookers are usually a gnarly benchmark for Super Rugby sides. Some of the younger brigade have not collected the creased faces or disfigured ears which often signify combat in the scrummaging trenches and close-quarter combat.

Benji Marshall has been officially released from his Super Rugby contract, but says he has "been able to find himself again" through playing rugby