The Crusaders got the five points they needs and the Blues avoided total annihilation - a good night all round, then.

Sometimes it takes a moment of class to get a team going and last night, once again for the Crusaders, it came from their giant wing Nemani Nadolo.

Join us for a live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Blues and Crusaders starting at 7.35pm.

Daniel Carter will run out at Eden Park tonight to face 15 men looking to take chunks out of him - which is nothing new.

You don't expect the Crusaders to be standing in line for miracles but, as Super Rugby heads into its penultimate round, that's exactly where they find themselves.

Blues and All Blacks lock Patrick Tuipulotu has been ruled out of rugby for the rest of the year after opting for surgery on a developmental defect with his hips.

The Crusaders are in a precarious tussle for the playoffs and surprisingly, are top of the pile in one department.

The Blues' finals hopes were dashed weeks ago but, presumably refreshed from their bye week, they still have an important role to play in terms of the final standings.

Beauden Barrett's calm influence was sorely missed during the Hurricanes' 35-18 loss to the Crusaders in Nelson tonight

No one condones foul play anymore. Player safety is top of the bill for all rugby authorities and the days of public glory in petty villainy have gone.

Join us for all the action from the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes from Trafalgar Park in Nelson.

If the Crusaders miss the playoffs they will look back on many frustrating matches this season.

The Crusaders' Super Rugby season has been a disappointment - a team with seven losses doesn't deserve to be in the playoffs.

The Crusaders will almost certainly miss the playoffs for the first time since 2001 after last night suffering their seventh loss of an insipid season.

Both have a range of outstanding loose-forwards and crunching Fijian power on the wing.

Waratahs coach predicts his side will be entering a Super Rugby war zone against a rested Crusaders side on Saturday.

The Crusaders have to be confident they can avenge last year's title loss to the Waratahs. Anything less this weekend and they'll be out of the 2015 series.

Crusaders assistant coach Tabai Matson was yesterday in Auckland to talk to Blues' players and board members about joining the team and Sir John Kirwan from next year.

Can someone please tell Colin Slade to tear up that overseas contract and stay a while?

There has been a quiet confidence within the Crusaders that their season is anything but over, but the results at the weekend have made their playoff dream a more realistic one.

A rampant attack and a generous opponent combined to provide a fitting farewell for a quintet of Crusaders tonight