Rugby: NZ teams run hot and cold

Israel Dagg is tackled by Bjorn Basson of the Bulls during their clash at Timaru on Saturday night. Photo / Getty Images

Little changed for New Zealand teams in the latest round of the Super 15, especially the Hurricanes.

They were shabby. Ineffective again up front and lateral in the backs. Cory Jane did well to be on paternity duty instead of being involved in the loss to the Brumbies.

If anything the Hurricanes have regressed. Their record is woeful; one win and a (donated) draw against the Crusaders in seven outings. They are the antithesis of the Highlanders who lack players of repute but have built their progress on the intangibles of willpower and mental courage.

While the Blues and Chiefs pondered their contrasting fortunes during their bye week, the Highlanders claimed another win before the Crusaders bounced the Bulls on their ample backsides.

They suffocated the visitors to Timaru, stabbed them with rapier thrusts - like Sonny Bill Williams' superb carving run for his try and bludgeoned them - on defence. The Bulls did not help their cause, spoiling what little possession they scrounged with sloppy handling errors in rare attacks.

They looked as spooked as the Hurricanes who fell 16-17 on Saturday in Canberra to an equally flaky Brumbies' combination - one bereft of Wallaby power in the pack with Rocky Elsom, Stephen Moore and Stephen Hoiles out injured.

The Hurricanes' starting tight five offered fractured work in the scrum and not much more. They delivered little momentum and that ineffectiveness rippled back through the side.

The loose forwards battled to make an imprint and in midfield, the combination of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith was shut out. Worse still, Smith was injured late in the match. He suffered facial injuries and will miss the next games in South Africa against the Cheetahs and Sharks. First five-eighths Aaron Cruden is also returning home after damaging his Achilles tendon.

Hauling themselves through the rest of the fixture list will be a huge grind for the Hurricanes who have lacked much clout and cohesion all competition.

It will not be doing captain Andrew Hore's demeanour much good ahead of an All Black programme, nor other national squad contenders. Nonu looks lost, Smith has been swallowed in defence, Victor Vito's form has flickered while Neemia Tialata, Jason Eaton and others have made little impact. Of course they can turn that around, but right now that looks as likely as them ice-skating in tutus.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders canter on. Home ground or not, it does not seem to matter to the quality of their performance.

They were without three of their stars - Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Sam Whitelock - and smoked the Bulls.

Twickenham or Timaru, there has been no let-up in their quality as the Crusaders have dragged into form injured men like Zac Guilford, older men like Chris Jack or well-travelled men like Matt Berquist.

Jack may not have figured in many pre-season lists for another World Cup place. He played his 67th and last test in that tournament four years ago.

Since then Whitelock, Anthony Boric and Tom Donnelly have gone past him but on Saturday, given a chance because of Whitelock's ankle injury, Jack was strong against the Bulls.

He troubled Victor Matfield in the lineouts, helped promote a strong scrum and showed his skills around the field. It was a blast from the past, a don't-forget-me moment from Jack who happens to be three years younger than Brad Thorn. Jack needs to repeat that form to make his rails run for the Cup, but he will have the chance with Whitelock sidelined for some weeks.

This Friday, the Crusaders caravan shifts to Mt Maunganui for a squareoff against the Chiefs and perhaps a new chapter in the mentor-pupil, Tana Umaga-Sonny Bill Williams' duels.

Like Jack, a few of the Chiefs' senior men need to bring their best, otherwise their slim playoff chances will disappear.