The injection of Shaun Stevenson into the Kubota Spears has seen them win their last four games. Also, with experienced North Harbour halfback Bryn Hall in the Spears squad, the Spears' Kiwi contingent is growing.
The revamped Super Rugby Pacific competition, now in its third year, is still trying to capture imagination and relevance post-South Africa split.
Despite a slow start to the season, Zarn Sullivan is on track to becoming a world-class fullback.
There’s no Barrett v Richie Mo’unga debate. There’s Barrett as the undisputed starter at 10 and then those that back him up when required.
Are we witnessing a shift in the power base of New Zealand rugby?
They have not beaten the Crusaders in this new era of Blues rugby under Leon Macdonald, losing five from five. They got close in 2019 with two tight losses in his first year as head coach.
The Blues will head into the coming Super Rugby Pacific season knowing that it will take a monumental effort to continue their success from last year's Trans-Tasman tournament.
The top flight of Japan's League One competition enters its third round this weekend and while every match has a Kiwi connection or two, it's the face-off between two former Super Rugby pivots that looms as perhaps the most enticing.
All Blacks star Beauden Barrett has revealed he is still struggling with concussion symptoms a month out from the kick-off of Super Rugby Pacific.
It can't be easy supporting the Blues, knowing that your side is always just one or two personnel away from being at full-strength and nigh unstoppable.