Richie McCaw is managing to temper his emotions ahead of the probable end of an era for several Crusaders teammates.

The Hurricanes beat the Crusaders in Wellington tonight and every one of their four tries were worthy of the highlights reel.

Colin Slade or Beauden Barrett? Beauden Barrett or Colin Slade? The starting order would not matter, the All Blacks would be happy with either at first five eighths.

On the weekend of boxing's biggest fight in years, the Crusaders look weak at the knees.

If the Crusaders want to feature at the top end of the table, a handful of individuals need to take greater responsibility for their performances, writes Richard Loe.

How the Blues must be wondering when this interminable season is going to end. The defeats are blurring now.

Blues' first-five Dan Bowden knows what it's like to play outside Dan Carter and he insists the struggling All Black isn't finished yet.

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.

Richie McCaw knows he's playing short of his peak - and the statistics support that assertion.

Something's just not right with the Crusaders. They tinker with their combinations, often swapping test men for test men but progress is marginal.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder is anticipating another "epic battle" in his team's derby with the Chiefs this weekend.

Colin Slade's decision to play overseas next year has just made Todd Blackadder's rebuilding job at the Crusaders in 2016 a whole lot tougher.

Crusaders pivot Colin Slade has signed a three-year contract with French club Pau, where he will earn about $700,000 a season.

The Highlanders certainly showed they have playoff credentials by going to Christchurch and winning. It was a statement win, writes Justin Marshall.

Time to take the Highlanders seriously. A victory in Christchurch suggests they are good enough to win this thing and no one should take their eye off them now.

Those nagging goal-kicking issues won't go away for New Zealand first fives Beauden Barrett and Aaron Cruden in this year's Super Rugby competition.

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.

The Crusaders ran riot with eight tries in a 52-10 hammering of the Sharks in South Africa this morning to lay down the biggest marker in round eight of Super Rugby.

Slow to start before bubbling towards the playoffs.