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Scotty Stevenson: Earplugs needed when Nugget is mining for a win
COMMENT: You have to wonder how Smith finds the time to be so happy for everyone else, writes Scotty Stevenson.

NZ Super Rugby team of the week
For the first time in the brief history of the NZ Form Team of the Week, one game has provided all fifteen players.

Patrick McKendry: Blues coach Umaga must ring changes
COMMENT: Blues coach needs to get tough and find alternative troops who have stomach for battle and are willing to show fight.

Dale Burden: Schools and sporting organisations need a better relationship
COMMENT: Chris Rattue's article is timely and sums up well the key points many have been talking about for a while.

Justin Marshall: Crusaders miss suspended Nadolo's substantial impact
COMMENT: Nadolo will make a big difference when he returns. He asks so many more questions of the defence.

Super Rugby: Best and worst of week 12
Kris Shannon reviews the best and worst from week 12 of Super Rugby.

Chris Rattue: Why is Auckland sport such a joke?
CHRIS RATTUE: Apart from the basketballers, Auckland's professional sports teams are basket cases.

Rugby: Advantage Chiefs as playoffs approach
With five rounds of Super Rugby to go, it's getting extremely tight in the New Zealand conference, with the Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders all on 37 points, one ahead of the Hurricanes.

Chris Rattue: Forget Konrad Hurrell, Shaun Johnson is the problem
COMMENT: It's the million dollar man, not the half million dollar one, who is the major problem at the Warriors, writes Chris Rattue.

Blues torn to shreds by hungry Lions
The Blues trudged off from Ellis Park in South Africa having conceded seven tries, while scoring only one.

Who will make the Super Rugby playoffs?
There's more than a reasonable chance that the four teams who finish with the most competition points will be from New Zealand.

Hurricanes survive ABs suspensions
Hurricanes went into clash without All Blacks Julian Savea, Cory Jane and Victor Vito and Ardie Savea and Chris Eves after players dropped for breaking curfew.

Never turn your back on a Highlander
COMMENT: It was a mistake to under estimate the Highlanders last year and it would be just as unwise to do so again this year, wites Gregor Paul.

Kurtley Beale may become highest paid player in England
The Waratahs have urged Kurtley Beale not to leave following reports he has signed £1.5 million deal with London Wasps.

Wynne Gray: An ill wind in South Africa for Hurricanes
The Hurricanes decided they would produce their best results in South Africa if they had an evening curfew.

As it happened: Highlanders v Crusaders
Join us for a live blog of the tantalising Kiwi derby between the Highlanders and the Crusaders.

Highlanders prove to be knockout kings
WATCH: A truly heavyweight contest - in all senses - finished with the Highlanders beating the Crusaders to join their southern cousins at the top of the table.

18 mins late, so why the suspension?
Five grown men missed a team curfew by minutes. Is a one-match suspension a fair result?

Highlanders have reason to celebrate
A first sell-out gate for the Highlanders, and the signing of wing Patrick Osborne for another year, are two reasons for the franchise to cele-brate.