It’s possible Beauden Barrett is right and an offer from the Blues is in the pipeline.

The Chiefs have found form at the vital time to set up a potentially pivotal showdown with the Blues next weekend.

I know people will be lining up to lay into Mark Hammett by asking 'what has he done in four seasons coaching the Hurricanes?' but I'm standing by him.

There's a fair chance the Waratahs will win Super Rugby this year and, in doing so, ignite a mini-panic - the Wallabies might be an emerging force.

The agony of defeat and their season ending with it will be hard enough for the Blues to deal with tomorrow morning.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Blues from AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

No dice, Blues coach John Kirwan proclaimed this week when asked about a move to contract Beauden Barrett.

Twelve months ago it looked as if Tony Woodcock's grip on the All Blacks' No 1 jersey was slipping.

The Chiefs will live to fight another week after producing a timely display to condemn the Hurricanes to a damaging defeat in Hamilton tonight.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby showdown between the Chiefs and the Hurricanes from Waikato Stadium.

It is no exaggeration to suggest the situation is dire and the Chiefs' chances of clawing their way to safety and a continued ride in defence of their Super Rugby crown, is grim.

No one can blame Ma'a Nonu for wanting to return to Wellington to be with his family - and that is likely to be his main reason for yet another shift.

There will be very little fuss made about them come tomorrow night and they wouldn't want it any other way. Keven Mealamu and Corey Flynn will just get on with the job.

Before tonight's win-or-bust encounter with the Hurricanes, the Chiefs are attributing their dire position to two deficiencies - in the head and in the heart.

Ma'a Nonu is refusing to talk about his future, increasing speculation he will use an out-clause in his contract to move back to the Hurricanes.

When Blade Thomson was pushed out of the Hurricanes' starting line-up he was told to work on his ball-carrying.

How do you explain the Blues' comprehensive victory against the Force?

It's hard to think of a more frustrating season for Crusaders fans, writes Brian Ashby. Just when they're starting to look like the real deal, they turn to dog tucker.

The Chiefs are still full of hope but they will need to be a lot more clinical and patient when they meet the Hurricanes on Friday night at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.

The Blues are trying hard to lure All Blacks first-five Beauden Barrett to lead their backline next year.

Take a decent bow you Highlanders. It's been a while since you gave Super Rugby a decent rattle and your season-ticketholders much to cheer about, writes Wynne Gray.

The Highlanders may not even have to win one of their final two games to gain a playoff spot as the cards continue to fall their way.

The Blues' stunning victory over the Force in Perth, which made a mockery of their woeful away record of the past two years, will mean little if they fail to back it up.

Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett will have the depth of his squad tested this week as his men eye another must-win Super Rugby encounter against the Chiefs on Friday night

A victory over the Hurricanes, with two home fixtures left, would have put the Crusaders in the box seat for a home semifinal. Instead, they lost 16-9, writes Justin Marshall.

The Chiefs looked like the same side who entered the June window during Friday's 29-25 crushing loss to the Highlanders.