Join our live blog of the Super Rugby clash between South Island rivals the Highlanders and the Crusaders in Dunedin.

New Zealand Herald rugby scribes Gregor Paul and Patrick McKendry discuss Dan Carters future as the five-five struggles with injury again in World Cup year.

Three days on and updates about Daniel Carter's latest leg injury are fuzzy.

Those inclined to provoke early season niggle will declare the Crusaders are toast, the Bulls are crisping and the Reds are burned offerings.

Second, losing to the Waratahs in the Sydney final. Traditionally slow burners, the Crusaders slipped uncomfortably back into a familiar pattern.

Super Rugby begins its 20th year tonight with maybe not even a quarter of the excitement and intrigue as it did in Palmerston North 1996.

The Crusaders' proposal to hold a home game against the Hurricanes in Fiji next season has been signed off by the franchise's board, but it has yet to convince the New Zealand Players' Association, which remains concerned about the fixture.

There might be a few players from the Crusaders who will have extra motivation in the All Blacks' camp this week.

All Black lock Sam Whitelock has defended himself and Crusaders teammates after images of them posing with dead big-game animals were posted online.

Daniel Carter will not play any rugby for at least a month after breaking his leg in the Super Rugby final on Saturday.

There will be global indifference felt towards the Waratahs' maiden title but massive satisfaction that Richie McCaw was cast as the villain in an epic final.

An ecstatic Adam Ashley-Cooper dubbed it "100 per cent the greatest moment in my rugby career" .

Evidently the Waratahs didn't hand any advantage to the Crusaders by shifting the final to Olympic Park.

The Crusaders began slowly, rose to a strong sequence deep in the Super 15 tournament, but could not close the deal.

Take another bow, Richie McCaw. Well, that's my position. There are others who may be hurling brickbats his way.

The Crusaders have been given a heroes' welcome following a heartbreaking last-minute loss in the Super Rugby final in Sydney.

The irony of Crusaders legend Andrew Mehrtens playing a significant role in the downfall of his old team was not lost on Waratahs coach Michael Cheika.

Analysis of the Crusaders' 2014 Super Rugby campaign will no doubt focus on the final five minutes at Homebush on Saturday night.

Fairytales do come true after all. The Waratahs, after 18 seasons of underachievement, finally won their first Super Rugby title tonight. Bernard Foley and Richie McCaw reflect on the Waratahs victory. Plenty could be made of the decision by Craig Joubert to penalise Richie McCaw for coming in from the side, but in the overall wash up, neither side could really complain.

Fairytales do come true after all. The Waratahs, after 18 seasons of underachievement, finally won their first Super Rugby title tonight.

Watch a replay of tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and the Waratahs in Sydney.