COMMENT: Watching the Blues play the Crusaders at Eden Park on Saturday, the character and promise within Tana Umaga's team was obvious.

The Blues are too far into their redevelopment to be enthused by brave defeats. They can't really shrug off losses any more as all being part of the learning curve.

The Blues, according to coach Tana Umaga, were tired this week.

Adding some intrigue to the grudge match between the Blues and Crusaders at Eden Park tomorrow night is the impending departure of halfback Bryn Hall.

A knee injury has ruled Blues loose forward Tanerau Latimer out of the team to play the Crusaders at Eden Park.

In holding on to beat the Force in Perth, the Blues won two matches on their South African road trip for the first time in eight years.

Somehow the Blues managed to hang on to beat the Force and keep their faintest playoff hopes alive.

If there was an easy answer to why the Blues have suffered a decade of mediocrity, it would most likely have been found.

Most social golfers know about the Mulligan rule - where once in the round, a duffed drive can be retaken without penalty.

The Blues believe they're on track to take the hard edge they have developed in training this week on to the Nib Stadium pitch against the Force on Saturday.

COMMENT: Blues coach needs to get tough and find alternative troops who have stomach for battle and are willing to show fight.

COMMENT: Chris Rattue's article is timely and sums up well the key points many have been talking about for a while.

CHRIS RATTUE: Apart from the basketballers, Auckland's professional sports teams are basket cases.

The Blues trudged off from Ellis Park in South Africa having conceded seven tries, while scoring only one.

Live updates of the Super Rugby clash between the Blues and the Lions.

The Super Rugby points table has a different complexion following some significant results over the weekend.

It wasn't the performance coach Tana Umaga was looking for but the Blues' victory over the Kings has struck an important mental blow.

It has been one month short of two years since their last away victory, but the Blues have finally won another match on the road.

Just as there are swing states in the United States election, so too are there players whose form will have a significant bearing on the make-up of the All Blacks squad for the Wales tour to be announced at the end of this month.

By the end of this campaign, the Blues could be a side with intriguing prospects for 2017.

The news that the Blues tried to lure Damian McKenzie to Auckland from the Chiefs with the promise of the No 10 jersey will have done little to reassure Ihaia West of his future at the franchise.

The Blues are hoping some new medical tech will help spark better injury recovery on their long haul South Africa trip.

Prediction time: the Blues will beat the Kings in Port Elizabeth this weekend and thus break their away match hoodoo stretching back to June 2014.

The Blues have quickly reminded themselves about the need for a ruthless attitude this week.

The Blues leave for a two-match tour of South Africa at 7am today and will step on to the plane with a small degree of satisfaction and a large degree of relief.

The Blues hold on for the win at Eden Park after a late comeback from the Rebels.

That the Blues claimed victory against the Rebels today isn't a surprise but the way they did it was.