A dubious performance by the Chiefs has been followed by a definitive forecast about key players Gareth Anscombe and Tim Nanai-Williams who have been ruled out until after the June tests.

A handful of Blues players took one big step towards the All Blacks tonight. The team, on the other hand, only flirted with a similarly impressive advancement.

Watch a replay of the live updates of tonight's NRL match between the Warriors and the Bulldogs and the Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Rebels.

Just when you thought the Hurricanes' season was over they found a way to give it some life.

It took just 23 minutes for the arguments to re-emerge.

A baby in propping terms, he is a giant of a young man, standing 1.94m and weighing in at 125kg. Ta'avao has all the credentials of age-grade selections as captain of the national under 20 side.

A real test for the Chiefs tonight this, and one they passed but only just. Questions remain about why they are struggling to put teams away this season.

Join us here for our live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Chiefs and the Force from ECOlight Stadium in Pukekohe.

The Blues have made a clutch of changes but coach John Kirwan is certain there will not be any mirror image in Super 15 performance tomorrow.

After Conrad Smith was knocked out in the Hurricanes' 48-14 loss to the Bulls, coach Mark Hammett has had to select a new centre for the first time since 2011.

Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is furious at the backing of the television match official's actions in awarding two tries to the Rebels against his side at the weekend.

Leading New Zealand sides the Chiefs and Blues have run into a bit of a Super 15 lull.

Western Force coach Michael Foley believes his team have been dudded on the fixture front as the Super rugby club braces itself for a gruelling trek back to New Zealand.

Each day this week nzherald.co.nz looks at the progress of the NZ Super Rugby franchises at the business end of the season. Today: Gregor Paul on the last-placed Highlanders.