The competition to wear the No10 jersey for the All Blacks against England next month is wide open after Hurricane Beauden Barrett engineered a demolition of the Chiefs.

The Saturday evening clash between the Highlanders and Crusaders was a perfect showcase of NZ rugby, writes Justin Marshall. It showed the excitement and skill levels of Super Rugby at its best.

Apart from their slip-up to the Blues at Eden Park at the start, winning away this season hasn't been an issue for the Crusaders.

Dave Rennie described the Chiefs as "a distant third" in their heavy defeat against the Hurricanes but there was one bright spot amid the gloom.

Super Rugby's dreaded June hiatus won't be a thing of the past as plans to shift the international window to July have been rejected by the Six Nations.

Ihaia West may have done enough against the Sharks to be handed his first start for the Blues this week when they take on the Hurricanes.

A classic game and maybe the cruellest ending. Patrick Osborne was adjudged to have simultaneously placed the ball on the junction of both the goalline and touchline in the last act of the game.

The Crusaders v Highlanders was the game of the year so far. An absolute epic, ending with video referee Vinny Munro having to make one heck of a corner post decision

Watch a replay of our live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Hurricanes and the Chiefs, from Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

The Brumbies have been steamrolled by a rampant Bulls outfit 44-23 in their Super Rugby clash in Pretoria.

Rugby players often withdraw a little as their next match looms and the Sharks followed that pattern as last night's match with the Blues approached.

The Blues' hopes of making the playoffs were on a knife edge before last night's defeat to the Sharks. Now they have been filleted and sliced and diced for good measure by the men from Durban who look increasingly like championship material.

Jewels have been hard to locate this season with the Blues. Captain Luke Braid and sidekick loosie Jerome Kaino have glittered and there has been more of a shine about Ma Nonu's play.

Some felt Tim Nanai-Williams could have spent his bye week with the All Blacks. He felt like hitting the gym.

Watch a replay of our live blog of the Blues taking on the Sharks in Super Rugby action from Albany Stadium.

In looking forward to the remainder of the season, the Blues must glance back and ensure they don't repeat their finish to 2013.

Sorting the game plan and sifting the most suitable combinations will be the priorities for the New Zealand Under 20s when they face the Blues Development XV today at Mt Maunganui's Blake Park.

Aaron Cruden is still a likely starter in the All Blacks' series against England despite being named on the bench in his return for the Chiefs.