James Marshall has a unique job description that varies every week.

For the coach of a table-topping team, Dave Rennie cut a rather glum figure on Friday night.

As the Blues board consider who will coach the team next year - and with half this season gone, they must be - Wayne Smith has to be close to the top of their list.

If the Blues are on the hunt for a new coach, which surely they are, their silence on the matter is potentially closing the door on the best possible candidates.

If the Crusaders want to feature at the top end of the table, a handful of individuals need to take greater responsibility for their performances, writes Richard Loe.

How the Blues must be wondering when this interminable season is going to end. The defeats are blurring now.

Blues' first-five Dan Bowden knows what it's like to play outside Dan Carter and he insists the struggling All Black isn't finished yet.

They have done great service for the All Blacks and their Super Rugby sides, but right now many of the Crusaders and Blues' senior players are struggling to get out of a rut.

The Highlanders' three-match winning streak came to a brutal end at the hands of the Brumbies in Canberra last night.

A week that began with Aaron Cruden being ruled out for the rest of the season ended in much more positive fashion for the Chiefs.

With John Kirwan about to rest All Black and Blues captain Jerome Kaino, Steven Luatua will today be named at No8 to take on the Crusaders.

Benji Marshall says his short stint playing for the Blues made him a better league player.

After spending the season in the shadow of his younger brother, Marty McKenzie has earned the opening opportunity to fill Aaron Cruden's boots.

Milestone man Pek Cowan hopes the Western Force will break their eight-match losing streak when they play the Chiefs in Hamilton.

One person who might have mixed feelings after Aaron Cruden’s World Cup dream was almost certainly ended by a knee injury is Charles Piutau.

Luck has completely deserted the Reds this season but captain James Slipper senses their fortunes may have finally turned.

Damian McKenzie's form has seen him touted as an All Black-in-waiting, with that elevation potentially arriving as early as next year.

Tell me if you've heard this before: Richie McCaw is looking old, the Crusaders are on the wane, Dan Carter is a shadow of his former self?