Rugby: Bring on clash of champions
The swagger has come from the Crusaders, the stagger from the Chiefs.
The swagger has come from the Crusaders, the stagger from the Chiefs.
The Chiefs are aware of the awakening monster that is the Crusaders forward pack but are confident they have the personnel to combat it
They fell at this hurdle last season, but the Crusaders feel they have the momentum and confidence to leap the Chiefs and go all the way this year.
Even All Black rivals are getting sick and tired of Kiwi fans jeering Wallaby playmaker Quade Cooper.
The new Wallaby coach would have dearly wanted his boys to beat the Crusaders in his first match against a NZ team since his Wallaby appointment, writes Richard Loe. Bad luck, Ewen.
He warned that despite their emphatic performance in despatching the Reds, they can't take anything for granted.
The Crusaders produced a scintillating display of footy tonight to thrash the Reds 38-9 at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.
Join us here for our live blog of the Crusaders taking on the Reds in the Super Rugby playoffs in Christchurch.
What, Todd Blackadder was asked the other day, should the Reds fear most about the Crusaders on Saturday?
Richie McCaw keeps popping up in Matt Mustchin's rugby career and he's done it again.
The Chiefs have claimed the New Zealand conference title thanks to the Crusaders' unimpressive 25 - 17 victory over the Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight.
Watch a replay of our live blog from the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch tonight.
All Blacks captain Richie McCaw could be back in the Super 15 next week if Saturday's highly-anticipated return to club rugby is a success.
A performance to celebrate - and there was plenty of toasting in the changing rooms afterwards, but the Crusaders have quickly put their stunning victory over the Chiefs in its place.
By selecting Ben Tameifuna at prop, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie is hoping to spike the Crusaders' scrum with the biggest piece of artillery he has.
Crusaders centre Robbie Fruean has withdrawn from the remainder off the Super 15 season after being forced to undergo further heart surgery.
With the blood running hot, it took the cool head of Daniel Carter to steer the Crusaders home tonight.
The news last night that more than 4000 extra seats have been made available for tonight's Highlanders match against the Crusaders in Dunedin should add to the alarm bells ringing in the visitors' camp.
The Chiefs changed the coaching landscape last year when they operated with four full-time coaches instead of the usual two.
Wallaby Berrick Barnes missed a fulltime penalty leaving the Crusaders with an unlikely 23 - 22 win over the Waratahs in Christchurch tonight.