Tomorrow's game between the Hurricanes and the Reds in Brisbane shapes as a banana-skin encounter for the Hurricanes.

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.

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.

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.

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?

Four years after suffering heartbreak at the final hurdle, Aaron Cruden's World Cup hopes have been dashed in equally unfortunate circumstances.

Every team has played at least eight games this season, which means we are at - or past - the halfway point of the 2015 Super Rugby campaign.

Aaron Cruden's season-ending injury is a dreadful blow for his ambitions, but we can appreciate the depth of our five-eighths talent, writes Wynn Gray.

In sporting circles and rugby conversation, failure has become the accepted outcome for the Blues and they stayed true to that course against the Highlanders, writes Wynne Gray.

This week will start with a different feeling for the Hurricanes.

Blues coach John Kirwan believes his team are still in with a slim chance of making the play-offs but is considering resting his captain Jerome Kaino from the must-win match.