Join us for all the action from the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes from Trafalgar Park in Nelson.

It's taken time but the Hurricanes are more than competitive and have led the charge in the competition this year with 12 wins from 13 games under new coach Chris Boyd.

With three rounds to go in Super Rugby, the Herald checks out the remaining contenders and rates their title chances.

Conrad Smith can board a plane to France at the end of the year knowing the future of the Hurricanes is in safe hands.

As the wind and rain continued to lash Auckland on Saturday, Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd gave a simple message to his team ahead of their match against the Blues.

Sir John Kirwan's supporters on the Blues board will be cringing after the depleted Hurricanes smashed the Super Rugby basket case at their alleged fortress.

Join us for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Blues and Hurricanes from Eden Park in Auckland.

It should be a walk in Eden Park. The Blues barely have enough troops to pick a match-day 23; they are down on loose forwards, experienced players and direction from their board.

Cory Jane has almost been the forgotten man of the Hurricanes' backline this year.

Sam Cane is the most productive Kiwi tackler in Super Rugby, but Richie McCaw and Julian Savea are slipping off tackles at position-worst rates.

The Blues are in tatters off the field and have a terrible record away from home but when you set up a game for them at Eden Park they generally find a way to win.

Relief will be washing through the Hurricanes. This wasn't a vintage performance and their 22-18 victory over the Chiefs at Westpac Stadium in Wellington last night will be one they might look back on and feel lucky to have escaped with the points. But the flipside to that argument is that this was another gritty win that shows how far this team has come when the heat goes on.

The All Blacks' defence of the World Cup feels jinxed. Good men are dropping all over the place. Conrad Smith is the latest, suffering concussion against the Chiefs in Wellington.

Ma'a Nonu was at his best during the Hurricanes’ 22-18 win over the Chiefs in Wellington tonight, extending their lead at the top of the New Zealand conference.

Super Rugby's two best teams of 2015 will finally meet at Westpac Stadium in Wellington tonight and the stakes are high.

Is Konrad Hurrell really a liability? Martin Guptill or Hamish Rutherford? Mark and Andrew debate the week's big questions.

The two have marked numerous milestones throughout their lengthy careers, which have worked in unison for the Hurricanes and All Blacks for the most part.

It has taken until the 14th round of the season but the top two teams in Super Rugby are finally about to do battle.

The Hurricanes could be facing a first-five crisis with James Marshall sent for scans on his knee.

Julian Savea is the undisputed starting choice in the No 11 jersey for the All Blacks but who will play on the right wing?