Crusaders

It will clearly take a mighty effort from anyone wanting to prevent the Crusaders claiming their eighth title.

If the weather stays as awful as it has been, stick the mortgage on the Crusaders.

On the back foot throughout, somehow the Hurricanes have denied the Crusaders an unbeaten season and booked a favourable quarterfinal in Canberra next week.

Back from the bush and ready to rock tomorrow - that's the Crusaders after one of the more offbeat weeks in their history.

Dan Carter is back in his favoured first-five position for the Crusaders as they prepare to play the Blues in Christchurch on Saturday night.

You have to nod admiringly in the direction of Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder.

All Black first five-eighths Dan Carter will make his first start of the Super 15 season after being named in the Crusaders lineup for Sunday morning's match against the Lions in Johannesburg.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder won't be making an official complaint about the farcical time-keeping at Dunedin's indoor stadium last night, but called the situation "unacceptable'' and "amateurish''.

Dan Carter aims to return to Super Rugby in the Crusaders' first match at the new Christchurch Stadium against the Cheetahs on March 24.

The inclusion of Zac Guildford on the reserves bench is the only change to the Crusaders as they prepare to play the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday night.

All four Whitelock brothers have been named in the Crusaders squad for the 2012 Super 15 season.

A familiar feeling of dread gnawed at Israel Dagg as he enjoyed the last days of his summer break and contemplated returning to the Crusaders.

Former All Black lock Tom Donnelly will play for the Crusaders next season as the Highlanders look to free up cash to sign some gamebreakers.

The Crusaders Super Rugby team will have a new home for the 2012 season after engineers recommended to Christchurch City Council that the Hadlee stand at AMI Stadium be demolished.