Rugby: Hurricanes must hit high point to arrest decline

A month ago they were breathing in the rarefied air associated with a position on the upper reaches of rugby's Super 14 ladder. Now the Hurricanes appear in danger of wheezing at altitude on South Africa's high veld.

Statistically there could hardly be a more foreboding venue for the Hurricanes to visit -- the stampeding Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (6.10amNZT).

While the Chiefs lost impetus on return from the Republic, the Hurricanes campaign has taken a different downward trajectory to eighth -- they made the most of home before but a wretched road trip means their season could be defined as early as round six.

Losses to the Cheetahs and the Stormers condemn the Hurricanes to a salvage mission against a side that hasn't experienced defeat inside their fortress since April 2008.

The Hurricanes might be encouraged by the fact they were the last Super rugby team to win at Loftus, 50-22 in round nine that year.

But since then the Bulls romped to their second title and this year they have only failed to break the 50-point barrier once.

Unfortunately the Hurricanes hardly approach their challenge in a cohesive state.

A concussed Cory Jane is already home while Colin Cooper has vented his frustration by making six changes to the side thrashed in Cape Town -- Piri Weepu is the highest profile casualty as Tyson Keats starts at halfback.

The Bulls, meanwhile, are running rampant - not even the bye has slowed their momentum - as evidenced by their 50-point haul against the Highlanders.

Inspirational captain and lock Victor Matfield's 100th cap adds a little extra motivation for the Bulls, who are unbeaten in 14 home games.

That is the sort of imposing record the Blues used to fashion on Eden Park but since the heady days of their Super 12 titles in 1996-97 the Auckland franchise's home record has deteriorated.

Ahead of tomorrow night's visit by the Brumbies, the Blues have won just 19 of their last 53 games in Auckland - a damning statistic as they seek to give centurion Keven Mealamu a memorable result in his landmark appearance.

The 10th-placed Blues need a victory to stay in the play-off frame against a Brumbies with four wins from five.

The Crusaders were the only New Zealand side to win in the last two rounds - admittedly against domestic opposition - and the seven-time champions seem certain to boost their bonus point collection and points differential against the struggling Lions from Johannesburg on Saturday evening (5.30pm).

Two former All Blacks return to the fray in Christchurch, though only one will be accorded a hero's welcome - veteran lock Chris Jack, who is named on the bench as Brad Thorn is rested.

Carlos Spencer doesn't exactly carry prodigal son status in Canterbury and can expect a vastly different reaction when he arrives off the bench.

This will be Spencer's first Super rugby appearance in Christchurch since an audacious match-winning try for the Blues in 2004, a game where the pivot famously added insult to injury deliberating veering to the corner before landing a bonus-point denying conversion.

Those were happy days for Spencer but a return to one of his least favourite venues promises to be unnerving, given the Lions have shipped 29 tries and 228 points in five games, a dent to morale so severe they have flown in a sports psychologist.

Spencer was dragged after a diffident first half against the Waratahs last weekend in Sydney, a sad ending to his 100th Super rugby cap, and another indication his powers are on the wane.

In Dunedin, the Highlanders welcome back Adam Thomson and Michael Hobbs from a one-game stand down on disciplinary grounds for Saturday night's clash with the winless Sharks at Carisbrook.

Hobbs starts at second five-eighth for the first time as Robbie Robinson is granted his first start at pivot.

Off shore, the second-placed Stormers host the Cheetahs in Cape Town while the Waratahs are poised to stretch the Western Force's losing streak to five in Perth in in Sunday games (NZT).