![How did the Blues sink so low?](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=793)
How did the Blues sink so low?
The John Kirwan coaching era began in a blaze of glory against the Hurricanes in Wellington two years ago.
The John Kirwan coaching era began in a blaze of glory against the Hurricanes in Wellington two years ago.
It wasn't their best performance of 2015 but the Hurricanes eventually ground their way to a 30-23 win in Palmerston North tonight as they kept their unbeaten record intact.
Some of what the Hurricanes did against the Blues last night was out of a Harlem Globetrotters' playbook.
Relive the action from tonight's Super Rugby clash between the unbeaten Hurricanes and the winless Blues, from FMG Stadium in Palmerston North.
As the Blues face their latest drama, one of their coaching castoffs, Joe Schmidt, is aiming at a landmark with Ireland.
If there is a straw the Blues can clutch ahead of tonight's game it is the story of the spreadsheet - which shows there is a foundation from which they can work.
The smart money is on the unbeaten Hurricanes claiming the competition points tomorrow, but statistics offer a few gremlins.
John Kirwan faces the very real prospect of losing his job if the results don't come over the next three or four weeks.
Go on then, write them off. Screw up your tickets and burn your scarves and refuse to watch them for the rest of the season.
the Blues have been lolling in mediocrity in the 12 years since they last won the Super rugby title, writes Wynne Gray.
John Kirwan's "bring it on" defiance in the aftermath of the Blues' depressing loss to the Lions was slightly more measured yesterday.
After writing a couple of weeks ago that I was really pleased with the quality and intensity early in this Super Rugby competition, along came this latest weekend.
Kirwan's comments after the woeful display against the underwhelming Lions reveal one reason why his Blues regime is in terminal turmoil, writes Chris Rattue.
John Kirwan has received the backing of Blues chief executive Michael Redman following the team's defeat to the Lions, which has left them in last place in the competition.
After watching his team blow a 10-3 lead to the bottom-placed team in the competition for their fourth defeat in four games in 2015 Kirwan said: "I like moments like this. Men need to stand up, so bring it on."
A match the Blues should have won, needed to desperately to win for themselves and coach John Kirwan, was spilled, fumbled and thrown away.
If the Blues are to turn their season aroundthey need to chalk up more than a solitary victory against the Lions, writes Gregor Paul.
Editorial: John Kirwan is clearly on borrowed time.
The worrying thing for Kirwan is when reports broke that the Blues were tapping up a replacement, no one contested the sense of such a decision, writes Gregor Paul.
The Blues have hit back at a report they are sounding out replacements for coach John Kirwan.
A victory over the Lions will open the release valve a little, but there will be little respite because the Blues' assignments to follow are extremely tough ones.
The Blues are becoming good at finding new and unusual ways to lose.
The Blues are becoming good at finding new and unusual ways to lose.