History has not been kind to the Highlanders - but they have proven history to be irrelevant time and time again.

Milner-Skudder joined the Hurricanes as a wider training group member last season and skipper Conrad Smith said he caught the eye of the senior players on the training paddock.

Tana Umaga faces a mammoth task in resuscitating the Blues, but Gregor Paul believes he can do it.

From playing rugby with an old plastic bottle to pulling on the black jersey, Waisake Naholo's path to the top has not been straightforward.

By the time the Samoa test rolls around next month, Richie McCaw will be forgiven for feeling a little stir crazy.

The key to victory for both New Zealand teams on semifinal weekend will be the way they deal with the opposition openside flankers.

Where will the match turn, what can we look for to see who's getting some traction? Wynne Gray provides the analysis.

Liam Coltman is not getting ahead of himself. The Waratahs - and their big, bristling forwards - await, but the Highlanders hooker and his team are staying calm.

The Highlanders are one win away from playing in their second Super Rugby final, with only the Waratahs standing between Jamie Joseph's side and the final.

The Highlanders need to be shown a bit more respect, their former coach Greg Cooper believes.

Brumbies winger Henry Speight will miss the Super Rugby playoffs after being suspended for five weeks.

Whatever occurred, Tana Umaga will benefit most from coaching the Blues without any interference from John Kirwan, writes Wynne Gray.

Tana Umaga says he must earn the respect of his players but Blues captain Jerome Kaino thinks the new coach has it already.

Tana Umaga, the new head coach at the Blues, says he would have worked with John Kirwan and was negotiating a contract on that basis before Kirwan suddenly quit last Friday.

Tana Umaga has been handed the job to try to resurrect the Blues.

Aaron Smith is the one of the most vital players in All Black rugby today. And he is in the form of his life.

A Hurricanes-Highlanders Super Rugby final could mean All Black spots for Andy Ellis, James Lowe and Nepo Laulala.

The Hurricanes are dangerous given their prowess on attack but have one major weakness.

The Hurricanes have earned home advantage for the Super Rugby semifinals and the prospect of playing in their first final since 2006 is a firm reality.

He left a mess at the Blues for someone else to clean up but has the audacity to announce the franchise is heading in right direction, writes Chris Rattue.

Australia has two sides playing in the Super Rugby semifinals and they're stacked with Wallabies showing steady improvements in Australian rugby, writes Justin Marshall.

Should Jerome Kaino get the all-clear in the next 10 days to resume playing, it might be a wise idea to stand back as there is a bit of pent-up frustration within him.

Considering the Chiefs lost five from five against the Kiwi sides still alive in the Super Rugby playoffs, no arguments can be made of an unjust exit.

The brilliance of the Highlanders' attack poses questions about whether it can be repeated at All Black level, writes Wynne Gray.