Amid the gloom of a disappointing start to the season by the Blues in Dunedin, there were glimpses of positivity.

Gregor Paul and Wynne Gray discuss the winners and losers from the first weekend of Super Rugby.Rugby Herald will be with you every week as the season unfolds.

Every sports competition needs a stack of components to make it more intriguing and they gallantly delivered when Super Rugby kicked off, writes Wynne Gray.

Two on the Blues' skimpy best list will miss the Crusaders' match and probably the side's trip to Africa.

Midfielder Francis Saili, one of the Blues' best players in his team's mostly lacklustre performance against the Highlanders in Dunedin.

Join us here for our live blog of the Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Blues from Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Rugby nomad Hayden Triggs was looking for a new job away from the game when he received the SOS call from Blues coach Sir John Kirwan.

The golden season and personal gilt for Brendon McCullum shut the lid on the commotion about captaincy of the New Zealand cricket side.

Ahead of his first start for The Blues on Saturday, prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi talks about how he's feeling and the hard work he's put in during the pre-season to reach his goal. Courtesy TheBlues/YouTube

Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan talks about his selections for the seasonopener against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday. Courtesy TheBlues/YouTube.

ODT rugby columnist Paul Dwyer catches up with the Highlanders' co-captains, Ben Smith and Nasi Manu, ahead of the team's match against the Blues at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.

Herald columnist Justin Marshall breaks down the five franchises ahead of this weekend's NZ Super Rugby launch.

Blues coach Sir John Kirwan was asked this week about the pressure on him this season, his second as head coach.

The Rugby Herald team give their expert opinion & analysis on the upcoming 2014 Super Rugby season. Radio Sports Nigel Yalden joins Gregor Paul from the Herald on Sunday and Patrick McKendry from APNZ newswire to 'crystal ball' the season ahead.

This week's Blues' team announcement for their opening match of the season will be keenly awaited because of Benji Marshall's arrival.

The Blues believe they developed an image problem with referees last year and have hatched a plan to turn it around.

Blues players Keven Mealamu and Francis Saili took on the other New Zealand Super Rugby franchises in a go-kart race to mark the start of the Super Rugby season. Courtesy TheBlues/YouTube

Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan talks about the team named to face the Chiefs in a pre-season hit-out in Rotorua on Friday. Courtesy Blues/YouTube

There was no weekend lie in for a handful of Blues players as they got up early for hill sprints up Western Spring's renowned Bullock Track...18 times. Courtesy Blues/YouTube

Video highlights of the Blues' 33-12 loss to the New South Wales Waratahs in a pre-season hit-out at Allianz Stadium on Friday February 7. Courtesy Blues/YouTube.

It's a late start for Keven Mealamu at the Blues again this season, but there's no lack of excitement, due in part to the freshness of a new year.

The arguments for and against resting Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu for the Blues' first game of the season against the Highlanders, writes Patrick McKendry.

All Black front-rowers Tony Woodcock and Keven Mealamu will sit out the Blues' opening match of the season against the Highlanders in Dunedin.