Strange business this Super Rugby competition. It takes a three-week break now and yet it's in the hiatus where it has previously been won and lost.

The New Zealand Rugby Union today confirmed that Crusader Zac Guildford's contract has been terminated.

The Saturday evening clash between the Highlanders and Crusaders was a perfect showcase of NZ rugby, writes Justin Marshall. It showed the excitement and skill levels of Super Rugby at its best.

Apart from their slip-up to the Blues at Eden Park at the start, winning away this season hasn't been an issue for the Crusaders.

A classic game and maybe the cruellest ending. Patrick Osborne was adjudged to have simultaneously placed the ball on the junction of both the goalline and touchline in the last act of the game.

The Crusaders v Highlanders was the game of the year so far. An absolute epic, ending with video referee Vinny Munro having to make one heck of a corner post decision

This wasn't a message to the rest of the competition from the Crusaders, this was a massacre.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Reds from Suncorp Stadium.

Another season, the same old problem for Australian rugby. They're soft, writes Chris Rattue.

When Matt Todd went down with a calf problem, Richie McCaw would have said goodbye to any thoughts of an early substitution in his comeback match.

As sure as the sound of Green Sleeves on a badly distorted PA system means children start whining for ice cream, the halfway point of the Super Rugby season means the Crusaders shift into gear.

It's an impossible business trying to understand this year's competition. The Brumbies destroy the Chiefs one week, are then destroyed by the Crusaders the next.

In a topsy-turvy weekend that delivered an unexpected win for the Highlanders and a royal thumping for the Chiefs, it was arguably the resting Crusaders who were the biggest winners.

The Crusaders secure their second win of the season beating the Rebels 39-0. Video / Sky Sport

Something has clicked for the Crusaders, coach Todd Blackadder reckons.

The significance of Kieran Read leaving the field after 30 minutes on Saturday night was easy to understand in the context of the match.

Herald rugby writers Gregor Paul & Patrick McKendry are joined by Radio Sport's Nigel Yalden to give their expert opinion & analysis after the Crusaders beat the Chiefs 18-17.