Travelling south to tackle the Highlanders in Dunedin tonight is hardly how Dave Rennie drew up the Chiefs' playoff plans.

Patrick McKendry writes: A new coach at the Blues, then, but will that bring about significant change?

Governance, recruitment, even the name must all be part of total effort to turn the team’s fortunes around.

Tana Umaga has received a contract from the Blues as John Kirwan's replacement but has yet to sign it.

It is just another game - but then again it is not. Trying to find the blend between the two is what the Highlanders need to do tonight in Dunedin.

After three tumultuous years coaching the Blues, Sir John Kirwan resigned today. We chart his successes and his failures.

Blues coach describes decision to step down as a "big moment" in his life: "I love this club [but] I think it's time for someone else to take over the reins."

There'll be about 50,000 supporters packed into Newlands delivering all sorts of advice to Peyper and his South African assistants, writes Wynne Gray.

The player key to the Chiefs' attacking strategy will bring a couple of contradictory features tomorrow night.

Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry pick the crucial players in the six playoffs teams.

In 2010, the Highlanders were effectively broke and a place in the playoffs appeared a million miles away. Now they are getting ready to host their first playoff game in 16 years.

A well-rested Sam Cane should send a shudder down the spine of any Highlander who attacks the line this Saturday night.

If Neil Sedaka thought breaking up was hard to do, he should have given making up a go. Breaking up is the easy part in professional rugby.

The seventh ranked Stormers must survive their sudden-death playoff without warrior-captain Duane Vermeulen.

Only six Super Rugby teams can take part in the playoffs and for some of the teams who missed out, the end of the season will have come as a relief.

The Highlanders have nailed the Chiefs 36-9 and 20-17 this season but a third success, even under the roof in Dunedin, looks lineball at best. Wynne Gray tells us why.

The Blues just need to look at the Highlanders, writes Justin Marshall.

Flanker John Hardie looks to be the biggest injury concern for the Highlanders as they get into playoff mode. The team will start training today.

Making the playoffs has been standard fare for the Chiefs in the Dave Rennie era and they collected championship crowns in 2012 and 2013.

Chris Rattue reveals the two rugby and league players who are on his must-watch list.

The Blues' latest plan to solve their coaching crisis by appointing Tana Umaga could put NZR in an even more awkward position.