In another compelling Southern derby, the Crusaders held off a late charge from the Highlanders to claim their first win of the Super Rugby season.

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

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.

Justin Marshall, in the first of his twice-weekly columns, casts his eyes over the strengths and weaknesses of the New Zealand franchises.

With Minnesota Vikings tight end Rhett Ellison visiting training this week, it's tempting to ponder how some of the Blues' best would handle a job swap.

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.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has praised his Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo for walking away from racial abuse at a Christchurch bar last night.

One of Todd Blackadder's first acts on his return to Christchurch after the heartbreak of the final defeat will be to ensure his side have the best players possible for next year.

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.