Sanzar's credibility has been privately mocked by several leading Super Rugby figures who feel the tournament organiser has made itself a laughing stock.

The Sanzar investigation into Waratahs coach Michael Cheika raised some questions. A 'draft report' of the findings provides the answers.

Waratahs and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika entered the refs room and spoke to match official Jaco Peyper at half time of their game against the Blues.

The Australian conference leaders want to inflict further misery on their Blues hosts but plans to assess Jimmy Cowan's halfback credentials are in limbo.

One-time State of Origin hardman Mark Carroll has made a conspicuous appearance at Waratahs training.

The embattled Super Rugby side attempt to end their five-match losing streak against the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday.

Queensland flanker Liam Gill admits the Reds' desperately poor Super Rugby campaign could cost him and teammates Rugby World Cup spots.

Charles Piutau is still in the All Black frame, but Francis Saili's career has gone mostly downhill.

Francis Saili is heading offshore later this year.

When you're bottom of the pile, you are usually there for some reason. It's no accident you are gazing up at every other team after seven rounds of competition, writes Wynne Gray.

Those nagging goal-kicking issues won't go away for New Zealand first fives Beauden Barrett and Aaron Cruden in this year's Super Rugby competition.

Anyone looking at the 2015 Super Rugby points table would rate the Brumbies to spoil the Blues opening season foray on to Eden Park on Friday night in Auckland.

Brodie Retallick's return from injury against the Blues illustrated just why an offshore move could prove an appealing prospect.

Sixth and climbing. The surge of the Crusaders on the last leg of their South Africa tour is a warning shot for the rest of the tournament, writes Wynne Gray.

The Crusaders ran riot with eight tries in a 52-10 hammering of the Sharks in South Africa this morning to lay down the biggest marker in round eight of Super Rugby.

Charles Piutau will be a loss to New Zealand rugby, of that there is no doubt, but the last couple of nights have provided ample evidence that the loss will soon be forgotten.

Nearly every player is an All Black and only the No15 jersey is up for grabs each week. Nehe Milner-Skudder is on the way to making that fullback spot his own and could be an All Black one day, too.

It's become a painful business watching the season play out for the Blues, writes Gregor Paul.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Chiefs and the Blues from Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

Herald columnist Justin Marshall identifies the three big match-ups that will determine tonight’s northern derby.

Trace the Blues' fluttering form and you could settle on events in the middle of 1998 as the birth of their professional rugby problems.

After missing five weeks - the longest injury lay-off of his professional career - Retallick is back to bolster a Chiefs team that have struggled for consistency in recent weeks.