On current form, the Hurricanes could ensure their season is over by round six. Not bad. It equals the efforts of the Highlanders last year, the Blues in 2012 and betters their own work in 2011.

Hurricanes captain Conrad Smith says they had too many errors and let themselves down, the harder they try the worse things get.

If the Hurricanes weren't panicking after losing their opening two games of the Super Rugby season they might need to change that approach after dropping their third.

Gregor Paul and Wynne Gray discuss the progress the Crusaders and Hurricanes have made this far into the Super Rugby season. Rugby Herald will be with you every week as the season unfolds.

In any match the Hurricanes offer a chance of victory through counter-attack from scraps of possession, writes Wynne Gray.

The Hurricanes will have to travel home from their two-match tour to South Africa without a win after the Stormers stole a 19-18 victory this morning.

The Hurricanes were unable to break through a resolute Sharks outfit as they went down 27-9 in their Super Rugby season-opener in Durban this morning.

Every year there's at least one player in each Super rugby team who finds another level during pre-season and bursts into contention to make the starting lineup.

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

With the rare and exciting talent the Hurricanes have in their squad, even the most traumatised fan should carry a sense of optimism they can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Coach Mark Hammett has spoken at length for the past two seasons about the inexperience and youth in his squad but that won't wash in 2014.

Gregor Paul and Wynne Gray look towards the start of the NZ matches in the 2015 Super Rugby season, who will win and who will fail?. Herald Rugby will be with you every week as the season unfolds.

Benji Marshall will return to the rugby league stronghold of Sydney for the continuation of his rugby union education with some confidence after a 40-minute hit-out against the Hurricanes at Masterton.

Benji-mania might be sweeping the Blues' fanbase but there were few clues as to which of the three options at first five-eighths will make it to the Super Rugby start line later this month.

New Zealand's Super rugby conference is primed for a high-octane start next year with a clash between the Chiefs and Crusaders.

All Black wing Julian Savea has ended weeks of speculation by pledging his allegiance to Wellington and the Hurricanes.

There was a lot of pressure and expectation surrounding a kid who recently turned 22 and has only eight test caps to his name.

The official heat has been coming on the Hurricanes to patch up their differences with Ma'a Nonu.