The relentless squeeze started from the man in the No1 Crusaders jersey and carried on through the pack and into their backline, writes Wynne Gray.

Perhaps the thing that grates most of all about the latest rash of track stars falling to positive drugs test is that so many seem to be living in that great river in Egypt.

The new Wallaby coach would have dearly wanted his boys to beat the Crusaders in his first match against a NZ team since his Wallaby appointment, writes Richard Loe. Bad luck, Ewen.

The America's Cup Event Authority has launched a jury protest against Italian syndicate Luna Rossa for not showing up at a party, writes Paul Lewis.

Watching State of Origin on Wednesday night confirmed to me how hard Australia will be to beat at this year's World Cup.

Rugby's absurd laws remain the greatest blight on the game, writes Wynne Gray. The sport's rulers have failed to keep pace with improvements like lineout lifting and defensive strengths to leave a game which is increasingly perplexing.

There was no let-up when the bulk of the 1987 World Cup-winning All Blacks toured Japan at the end of that season.

Ashton Agar. He even has a slightly film star touch to his name and - if you're into that sort of thing - a bit of teenage heart-throb potential, or so it's said.

I used to love the biff but now it has no place in rugby league and I support hard-line efforts to try to eliminate it from the game, writes Richie Barnett.

Has there ever been such a controversial Auckland lock as Ali Williams? And has the city's place as the home of the great locks in world rugby come to an end?

While his Wallaby side went through their usual parabolic form graph, Deans ploughed on. He had a job to do, writes Wynne Gray.

A return to New Zealand just doesn't feel like it would be the right for Robbie Deans or the right thing for New Zealand rugby, writes Gregor Paul.

While it's called the America's Cup, it's not an event that resonates with the everyday American sports fan, writes Dana Johannsen.

That settles that, then. Robbie Deans will leave the Wallabies with a big F for failure stamped on his record, writes Chris Rattue. "His selections have been amazingly inconsistent."

It's doubtful that there has ever been a more ludicrous run-in to the America's Cup.

Subplots regularly threaten to overpower the main act in Australian rugby.

Two conflicting schools of thought get plenty of support on the Australianisation of New Zealand coaching ranks, writes David Leggat.

Team New Zealand management are being careful to keep the sailing team insulated from the "ruddergate" drama, writes Dana Johannsen.

Everyone in Australian rugby has theories as the sport suffers in the popularity stakes decided by attendances and television ratings.

Maybe Benji Marshall will benefit from a change of codes and, despite being a Kiwi selector, I'm not about to make a plea that he remains in league.

The Lions have got more than a test series to win on Saturday night, writes Chris Rattue. They need to discover a spirit for the game and restore some excitement and honour.

Sydney is frothing with sporting expectation as headline events saturate the city for the next month.

There's something invigorating about Blues coach Sir John Kirwan's bid to lure the league magician Benji Marshall to Auckland.

Cycling's ethical and moral compass went haywire a long time ago, and yet the sport's popularity only grows, writes Gregor Paul.

I can only wonder, given the New Zealand team's selections for this round, who is singing off which hymn sheet.