Every sports competition needs a stack of components to make it more intriguing and they gallantly delivered when Super Rugby kicked off, writes Wynne Gray.

It is easy to write off the Crusaders' loss to the Chiefs on Friday as a bad night in front of the posts, writes Justin Marshall. But for me the Crusaders' concerns should run deeper than that.

New Zealand's next captain should be... Ross Taylor, writes Dylan Cleaver. Seriously. Kane Williamson will be captain one day, but there is no need to anoint him captain-in-waiting.

New Zealand was the only non-member of this test-playing elite club.

A punter's guide would suggest caution about the Blues. The form guide is not flash.

Scouting is just one part of the Super 15 jigsaw; getting players to sign on and then coaching them to success.

Our Winter Olympians are a hard lot to get behind, writes Dana Johannsen. Given NZ's modest record, the team went to Sochi with very few expectations from the public.

Best thing about the Highlanders? Their foxy home stadium, the Smiths, Nasi Manu and Brad Thorn, writes Wynne Gray.

Barker answered Henry's probing questions with hesitancy, looking as if secret information was being prised out of him, writes Paul Lewis.

It's time for New Zealand Cricket to cut loose troublesome duo Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell, writes David Leggat.

As the balance swung, so the sense of anticipation grew, writes David Leggat. Respect for India's batting strength was squared with the tingling prospect of a New Zealand victory.

It comes to all in sport, even the elite; the day when time, body and mind of a top sportsman or woman are dimmed, writes Paul Lewis.

Benji, alone, will not be the side's saviour but if the team sparks and his talent begins to flow, the Blues will be an awkward opponent, writes Wynne Gray

That's more like it. It's traditional for the league season to start with a decent rumour and a month out from the NRL kickoff, we have a doozy.

They have nippy fast-medium bowlers who will swing the ball and they can add the clever Zaheer Khan, writes Mark Richardson.

There's about 16 million reasons for hoping the Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl tomorrow morning.

Aussie cricket treats NZ the way NZ rugby treats the Pacific Islands, writes Chris Rattue. India, England and Australia have gone behind the rest of cricket's back to come up with a scheme to suit themselves.

The NZers have captured the public's summer mood with their David-Goliath efforts against world champs India, writes Andrew Alderson.

If the Black Caps were to smash India in this series, the superpower would probably just shrug their shoulders and move on, writes Mark Richardson.

There was a curious backlash against "the media" for highlighting the Steven Luatua incident with that moronic Neknominate drinking fad, writes Paul Lewis.

A group of selfish heavyweights in a particular sport are locking up the goodies and gold for themselves, and the rest can suck eggs, writes Chris Rattue.

It was a risky assignment for the Silver Ferns, writes Dana Johannsen.

Chris Rattue asks: Is that the sound of a bear with a sore head, or is it Phoenix co-owner Gareth Morgan winding up?

Adam Milne and Ish Sodhi, young bowlers with bright futures, present a couple of dilemmas for NZ's selectors during the Indian tour. Nice problems, mind you.