Tim Bateman doesn't see himself as the saviour of the Hurricanes' backline.

It was Piri Weepu's speech problems while with the Blues in South Africa that prompted the scan that revealed he had played three matches after suffering a minor stroke.

After struggling all season at the lineout, the Chiefs are set for a torrid time when they line up against the Bulls this weekend.

Buxton Popoali'i is counting his blessings he is still alive.

Bateman Returns! The headline was simple and it wasn't a typo. The Hurricanes' fans finally have something to cheer about!

Melbourne Rebel Colby Fainga'a has a point to prove when he faces his former Brumbies teammates in their Super Rugby clash tonight.

As he prepares to test himself against the other in-form New Zealand fullback, Charles Piutau says he wishes his consistency could reach that of rival Ben Smith.

A person suspected of suffering a stroke should not even drive a car, never mind play a game of rugby, a stroke expert says.

Rugby has a sleeping pill problem all right. It's called the Super 15. What a yawn, writes Chris Rattue. "Nothing has been the same since the All Black bosses, with the NZRU's support, yanked an entire test squad out of much of the Super competition."

Ankle injury or not, Cory Jane appears to no longer be a certain starter for the Hurricanes.

The Blues have been the beneficiaries of a timely visit from All Blacks' scrum coach Mike Cron as they prepare to avenge their week one defeat to the Highlanders.

The worst performance in Wayne Smith's time at the Chiefs will leave a few players fearing for their spots against the Bulls this weekend.

The Super 15 maze shifts to Eden Park on Saturday as the Blues host the Highlanders for their repeat contest.

Andre Taylor has put his hobbies on hold this year. The Hurricanes fullback was an avid golfer, enjoyed playing with remote control cars and tinkering with life-sized ones but none of those have taken up his time recently.

All Black wing Cory Jane has no recollection of the night he took sleeping pills and went out with fellow AB Israel Dagg during the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

The Blues were a hard watch at the weekend, and that wasn't entirely down to referee Francisco Pastrana, although he must take some responsibility.

Frame the market now for the All Black fullback and Ben Smith would be out in front.

Jerome Kaino and Ma'a Nonu have come through their first assignment of the season and will see their workloads increase markedly from here.

Sir John Kirwan wants referees to have less say in scrums, calling the set piece a "lottery" which could be easily fixed with one simple change.

A big score, an easyish win and yet still no definitive clues as to what this Blues side are all about.

I'm a farmer and if those two referees (Briant and Pastrana) were livestock, I'd have them castrated so we couldn't breed from them, writes Richard Loe.

When Jerome Kaino signed with the Blues last year, there was a bit of hands on hips stuff from the conditioning staff, cheeks puffed out, heads shaking in anticipation of the re-conditioning job that awaited.