His body could do with a rest but Aaron Cruden is more worried about how to gel a constantly changing Chiefs midfield for what will be a series of brutal matches.

Experienced hooker Keven Mealamu will return to the Blues as they head into their repeat clash with the test-cap heavy Crusaders.

The New Zealand Rugby Union's decision to deny the Chiefs former All Black centre Casey Laulala has opened the organisation up to allegations of bias.

Blues player Francis Saili took some time off from rugby to celebrate Mother's Day yesterday at Auckland's highest restaurant.

Australian rugby is the winner so far this year, even if it doesn't go on to win the Super 15 title.

A dubious performance by the Chiefs has been followed by a definitive forecast about key players Gareth Anscombe and Tim Nanai-Williams who have been ruled out until after the June tests.

A handful of Blues players took one big step towards the All Blacks tonight. The team, on the other hand, only flirted with a similarly impressive advancement.

Watch a replay of the live updates of tonight's NRL match between the Warriors and the Bulldogs and the Super Rugby match between the Blues and the Rebels.

Just when you thought the Hurricanes' season was over they found a way to give it some life.

It took just 23 minutes for the arguments to re-emerge.

A baby in propping terms, he is a giant of a young man, standing 1.94m and weighing in at 125kg. Ta'avao has all the credentials of age-grade selections as captain of the national under 20 side.

The Blues have made a clutch of changes but coach John Kirwan is certain there will not be any mirror image in Super 15 performance tomorrow.

After Conrad Smith was knocked out in the Hurricanes' 48-14 loss to the Bulls, coach Mark Hammett has had to select a new centre for the first time since 2011.