![Rugby: Carter's comeback forces rejig](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=806)
Rugby: Carter's comeback forces rejig
Holding pattern or way forward? That's the question which immediately springs to mind regarding Dan Carter's selection at second-five for the Crusaders today.
Holding pattern or way forward? That's the question which immediately springs to mind regarding Dan Carter's selection at second-five for the Crusaders today.
With the powerful Stormers pack and destructive defence having taken them to the top of the competition, the Chiefs know they need to avoid their opponents' strengths.
It wasn't their best performance of 2015 but the Hurricanes eventually ground their way to a 30-23 win in Palmerston North tonight as they kept their unbeaten record intact.
Some of what the Hurricanes did against the Blues last night was out of a Harlem Globetrotters' playbook.
Relive the action from tonight's Super Rugby clash between the unbeaten Hurricanes and the winless Blues, from FMG Stadium in Palmerston North.
As the Blues face their latest drama, one of their coaching castoffs, Joe Schmidt, is aiming at a landmark with Ireland.
There is a glaring difference between the two sporting products on offer: the cricket is exciting; the rugby is anything but, writes Paul Thomas.
The smart money is on the unbeaten Hurricanes claiming the competition points tomorrow, but statistics offer a few gremlins.
John Kirwan faces the very real prospect of losing his job if the results don't come over the next three or four weeks.
A delayed concussion for skipper Jerome Kaino has ruled him out of the match against the Hurricanes.
The struggling Blues will be without captain Jerome Kaino for their clash with the Hurricanes in Palmerston North on Friday as the All Black recovers from a concussion.
the Blues have been lolling in mediocrity in the 12 years since they last won the Super rugby title, writes Wynne Gray.
After four rounds a Super Rugby pattern is starting to emerge around who's performing well this season.
John Kirwan's "bring it on" defiance in the aftermath of the Blues' depressing loss to the Lions was slightly more measured yesterday.
After writing a couple of weeks ago that I was really pleased with the quality and intensity early in this Super Rugby competition, along came this latest weekend.
Kirwan's comments after the woeful display against the underwhelming Lions reveal one reason why his Blues regime is in terminal turmoil, writes Chris Rattue.
John Kirwan has received the backing of Blues chief executive Michael Redman following the team's defeat to the Lions, which has left them in last place in the competition.
After watching his team blow a 10-3 lead to the bottom-placed team in the competition for their fourth defeat in four games in 2015 Kirwan said: "I like moments like this. Men need to stand up, so bring it on."
A match the Blues should have won, needed to desperately to win for themselves and coach John Kirwan, was spilled, fumbled and thrown away.
The only thing more humiliating about being dragged into a dog fight with the Lions, is being dragged into that fight and then losing.
Marty Banks kicked two penalties in the final five minutes to overturn a deficit and help the Highlanders to a last-minute win over the Chiefs.