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

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.

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?

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

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

The Chiefs easily recovered from the first-half loss of Aaron Cruden to secure a memorable double over the Crusaders in Christchurch tonight.

Relive all the action from the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Chiefs at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

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.

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.

The continued ill discipline in Super Rugby could lead to a serious, even tragic, injury if players aren't more careful, writes Justin Marshall.

A Cheetahs implosion or a Crusaders miracle - it doesn't matter. Al that does is that midway through the second half last night the Crusaders came alive.