Gregor Paul and Wynne Gray discuss the upcoming clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders.

Piri Weepu is back training at the Blues after his stroke and heart operation and is expected to be available to play the Waratahs at Eden Park next week.

From the high of their bonus-point victory over the Highlanders to a new low of being dismantled by the Brumbies.

The franchise has a week off to fix the walking wounded and find form. Gregor Paul analyses their work so far.

The road trip blues continue for Sir John Kirwan following his side's loss against the Brumbies at a wet Canberra Stadium.

Former Blues coaches Joe Schmidt and David Nucifora are about to pool their rugby knowledge once more but this time their roles will be reversed.

Those with an interest in Blues rugby and mathematics would have been heartened by the sequence which unfolded at Eden Park.

It is the collective effort of the Blues in keeping the Highlanders try-less in their 30-12 victory at Eden Park which suggests John Kirwan's team are beginning to gain traction.

Blues' supporters questioning the wisdom of getting Ma'a Nonu back this season should have had their minds put at ease by the performance of the All Blacks midfielder at Eden Park last night.

Auckland Blues head coach John Kirwan said, this was his teams best performance, 'we've been asking the boys to play for 80 minutes and I think they done that tonight'. A strong defensive start set a good platform which helped keep the Highlanders scoreless, winning 32-12 at Eden Park.

Herald rugby writers Gregor Paul & Patrick McKendry are joined by Nigel Yalden from Radio Sport to give their expert opinion and analysis after the Blues impressive win over the Highlanders 30-12 at Eden Park.

The Blues looked a lot less like the Blues tonight and yet they also looked a lot more like potential playoff contenders.

Watch a replay of our live blog fom the Super Rugby clash between the Blues and the Highlanders from Eden Park in Auckland.

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

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.

Ma'a Nonu, Jerome Kaino, Hayden Triggs and Bryn Hall have all been promoted from the reserves bench to start for the Blues against the Highlanders at Eden Park on Saturday night.

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

New Zealand Herald rugby scribes Wynne Gray and Gregor Paul discuss the Blues, Ma'a Nonu and Jerome Kaino.

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.

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.