A handful of wingers in New Zealand are revolutionising the position and I believe Julian Savea has the skills to follow their lead to really take his game into the stratosphere.

The Crusaders got more traction when they kept the ball instead of hoofing it downfield but still look a little uncertain about their attacking methods and transition, writes Wynne Gray.

Aaron Cruden has been dealt worse hands than this, writes Scotty Stevenson, and yet he’s still sitting at the final table.

Tell me if you've heard this before: Richie McCaw is looking old, the Crusaders are on the wane, Dan Carter is a shadow of his former self?

After watching the demolition job the Chiefs did on the Crusaders, there was one really disappointing aspect to emerge.

Cowan, Bekhuis and Woodcock or Naholo, Fekitoa, Aaron Smith, Ash Dixon and Dan Pryor - Wynne Gray wonders, which team got the better deal?

Sanzar was satisfied there was no malice in the conversation and felt Michael Cheika's approach did not amount to misconduct, writes Wynne Gray. If that's so, the questions will multiply.

New Zealand's national league this season featured a reserve team, a youth team, the Wellington Phoenix's greatest player and the third best club team in the world.

Sixth and climbing. The surge of the Crusaders on the last leg of their South Africa tour is a warning shot for the rest of the tournament, writes Wynne Gray.

Wynne Gray writes that, on Super Rugby form, Ben Smith and Charles Piutau must head the selectors' World Cup choices.

Slow to start before bubbling towards the playoffs.

The Warriors' defeat to Brisbane last Sunday was disappointing but there were some positives to come out of the match that illustrate the progress being made under coach Andrew McFadden.

The New Zealand cricketers need to harden up before they venture back across the Ditch, says Chris Rattue.

In rugby these qualities are best and invariably embodied by that great chunk of a man from the Cape of South Africa, Schalk Burger.

One of the World Cup final's intriguing sub-plots, which highlighted a gulf in mindset between the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams, was the retirement question.

Spending time in South Korea over the past few days has given a timely reminder of our place in the football world.

Hope and expectation can be cruel companions for NZ cricket fans.

Life can get pretty tough when you're a talisman and you're having one of those days when you just can't "talis".

We are always very quick to criticise coaches when teams are inept or failing to get results so I would take this opportunity to give credit to the coaches at the Highlanders and Hurricanes.

The World Cup final was the first time at least one of New Zealand's top three batsmen had failed to get past 38 at the tournament.

Will we win? It's the question that has driven me nuts this week.

This New Zealand cricket team is our GOAT, the Greatest Of All Time.

The last time the Blues boarded a return flight from Sydney with a victory smile alongside their boarding pass was back in 2003 when they won the tournament.

Trent Boult has almost effortless pace, a beautiful line, perfectly effective swing and has unleashed a good dollop of unplayable deliveries in the World Cup.

A year ago, you might not have given much for Trent Boult's chances of figuring quite so prominently in the World Cup.