In sporting circles and rugby conversation, failure has become the accepted outcome for the Blues and they stayed true to that course against the Highlanders, writes Wynne Gray.

Jimmy Cowan is going back to his roots - back to Dunedin to face the team he played for more than 100 times, a team he freely admits are much better now.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is completely satisfied with the condition of prop Josh Hohneck, saying that anyone who can go pig hunting and capture a boar must be all right.

Cowan, Bekhuis and Woodcock or Naholo, Fekitoa, Aaron Smith, Ash Dixon and Dan Pryor - Wynne Gray wonders, which team got the better deal?

The Highlanders made a big pitch to keep star winger Waisake Naholo but he had all-but signed a deal to go to France before the season had even kicked off.

The Highlanders' performance in chasing down the Crusaders in Christchurch for a significant victory on Saturday should have been enough to bring the Blues back down to earth.

The Highlanders certainly showed they have playoff credentials by going to Christchurch and winning. It was a statement win, writes Justin Marshall.

At the start of the Super Rugby season, the Blues had a mish-mash of backs while the Highlanders would struggle with forwards. Combine them and they might be handy, writes Wynne Gray.

We are always very quick to criticise coaches when teams are inept or failing to get results so I would take this opportunity to give credit to the coaches at the Highlanders and Hurricanes.

Hurricanes preserve their unbeaten record for the season with hard-fought win over unlucky Highlanders.

Ask Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph about his side's "battlers" tag and see what happens. Actually, let me save you the trouble.

At the start of the season it was mentioned that the Highlanders had a tough draw and how important it was that they got away to a good start because they're going to feel the brunt at the end with....

Something mysterious is going on around this Highlanders mob; they are somehow winning matches which they have no right to win.

Join us here for the live blog of tonight's Super Rugby clash between the Chiefs and the Highlanders at Waikato Stadium.

In another compelling Southern derby, the Crusaders held off a late charge from the Highlanders to claim their first win of the Super Rugby season.

Join our live blog of the Super Rugby clash between South Island rivals the Highlanders and the Crusaders in Dunedin.

Justin Marshall, in the first of his twice-weekly columns, casts his eyes over the strengths and weaknesses of the New Zealand franchises.

With Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison visiting training this week, it's tempting to ponder how some of the Blues' best would handle a job swap.

Finished sixth - beaten in playoffs. Devoid of stars and coming off the back of a horror campaign in 2013, the Highlanders were the tournament's big surprise last year.

Twelve months is a long time in professional rugby.