Crusaders assistant coach Tabai Matson was yesterday in Auckland to talk to Blues' players and board members about joining the team and Sir John Kirwan from next year.

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

Can someone please tell Colin Slade to tear up that overseas contract and stay a while?

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

Reappointing John Kirwan is as unwise as rebuilding Eden Park for the last World Cup.

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

Let's plot a magic few weeks for the Warriors and look at why they have such a promising road ahead, writes Chris Rattue.

Bring on the Chiefs. The Hurricanes keep rolling, they've won 10 from 11, sit atop the Super Rugby standings and can start planning a playoff appearance.

Whoever coaches the Blues next year, and the signs remain promising for John Kirwan, one of the challenges they face will be changing the mentality of the players.

There has been a quiet confidence within the Crusaders that their season is anything but over, but the results at the weekend have made their playoff dream a more realistic one.

Wynne Gray writes: Since when does a ball hidden at the back of a maul with seven players forming an obstructive wedge ahead of the ball-carrier constitute a fair contest for possession?

Ugly, gritty or gutsy; call it what you will, last night's 32-24 victory over the Sharks at Westpac Stadium in Wellington was another example of how far this team has come.

Sir John Kirwan said yesterday he's given the board a brutally honest appraisal about his own failings and how they have impacted on the club.

The Hurricanes have reached the 10-win mark this season, which in recent years has been enough to secure a spot in the Super Rugby playoffs.

The Hurricanes haven't played in the Super Rugby finals since 2009, but they have a chance to break their playoff drought tonight.

Kirwan has the backing of his players, accepted his faults, and promised to improve. That's enough, it seems, writes Patrick McKendry.

Royal rugby espionage! You can't be too careful with Prince Harry taking in tonight's Super rugby match in Wellington, warns Wynne Gray.

Sir John Kirwan is believed to be only two weeks away from being re-appointed for at least another season at the Blues.

The Blues will finish the season with yet another unwanted record after this latest loss to the Rebels in Melbourne tonight.

They were golden moments for the Blues in their trip to Melbourne but they were too infrequent to overcome a determined home team.

A rampant attack and a generous opponent combined to provide a fitting farewell for a quintet of Crusaders tonight

You look at tomorrow's game between the Hurricanes and Sharks and, given their respective positions on the table, think it should be an easy win for the home side.

The Rebels in Melbourne tonight present the final chance the Blues have to improve their away record under John Kirwan this season.