Four years after suffering heartbreak at the final hurdle, Aaron Cruden's World Cup hopes have been dashed in equally unfortunate circumstances.

Aaron Cruden's season-ending injury is a dreadful blow for his ambitions, but we can appreciate the depth of our five-eighths talent, writes Wynn Gray.

Step up Damian McKenzie. The question has always been when, not if, he'd be an All Black and given events of recent months, the answer might be 2016.

For the first three years of Dave Rennie's reign at the Chiefs, clashes with the Crusaders conformed to a certain pattern.

The Chiefs easily recovered from the first-half loss of Aaron Cruden to secure a memorable double over the Crusaders in Christchurch tonight.

Relive all the action from the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Chiefs at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

Something's just not right with the Crusaders. They tinker with their combinations, often swapping test men for test men but progress is marginal.

Aaron Cruden will come up against a pair of mates and rivals when the Chiefs visit the Crusaders.

The last time Sonny Bill Williams and Charlie Ngatai started together in midfield, the Chiefs produced their attacking performance of the season.

Those nagging goal-kicking issues won't go away for New Zealand first fives Beauden Barrett and Aaron Cruden in this year's Super Rugby competition.

Brodie Retallick's return from injury against the Blues illustrated just why an offshore move could prove an appealing prospect.

It's become a painful business watching the season play out for the Blues, writes Gregor Paul.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Chiefs and the Blues from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Herald columnist Justin Marshall identifies the three big match-ups that will determine tonight’s northern derby.

After missing five weeks - the longest injury lay-off of his professional career - Retallick is back to bolster a Chiefs team that have struggled for consistency in recent weeks.

Sam Cane's outstanding season is set to enter uncharted territory against the Blues on Saturday night.

Some of the same issues remain but the Chiefs were able to see off the Cheetahs this afternoon while still playing short of their best.

Damian McKenzie was one of the Chiefs' best in their recent trip to the Republic, earning a third straight start in the No 15 jersey for this afternoon's meeting with the Cheetahs.

The continued ill discipline in Super Rugby could lead to a serious, even tragic, injury if players aren't more careful, writes Justin Marshall.

If the Chiefs wish to break the unfortunate pattern they are following, the next fortnight presents an ideal opportunity.

In tough conditions in Durban with a numerical advantage after a rash of indiscipline, the Chiefs lost their way. Among that mess was Aaron Cruden, writes Wynne Gray.

An ugly game produced an ugly result for the Chiefs in Durban this morning.

Two recent incidents in which high-profile All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams and Jerome Kaino have effectively played on after suffering bad head knocks have placed the off-field concussion test in the spotlight.