Latest from Super Rugby

Daniel McHardy: Hurricanes could shake 'potential' tag for real success

With the rare and exciting talent the Hurricanes have in their squad, even the most traumatised fan should carry a sense of optimism they can return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Gregor Paul: Alarms going off regarding overseas-based Springboks

For those who don't believe allowing overseas-based players to be eligible for the All Blacks would be disastrous, take heed of what is happening in South Africa.

Rugby: Beefed-up Savea primed to take his game to next level

Ardie Savea's apprenticeship is over. After spending most of his first season as a full-time Super Rugby player making up the numbers at training last year that will change in 2014.

Eye on the Crusaders

Brian Ashby: Blackadder's boys a chance for another shot at win

Wynne Gray: Crusaders need fast, strong start

Five seasons and counting. Recollections of the Crusaders' supremacy are fading as they continue to go through their close-but-no-cigar routine, writes Wynne Gray.

Quade to start for Reds

Rugby: Mogg a dangerman for Reds

Rugby: Blackadder's change of tack

As a coach, Todd Blackadder is prone to all manner of sayings, and one of his standard lines is the one about the definition of insanity being the inclination to do the same thing over and over again, all the while expecting a different result.

Rugby: Marshall likely to bide time on bench in opener

This week's Blues' team announcement for their opening match of the season will be keenly awaited because of Benji Marshall's arrival.

Rugby: Super title test marked out of ten

No team has won a Super Rugby title without a test-class first-five: Carlos Spencer, Andrew Mehrtens, Stephen Larkham, Daniel Carter, Morne Steyn, Quade Cooper and Aaron Cruden are the title-winning 10s. Gregor Paul assesses the current crop of New Zealan

Richard Loe: Fans want teams to bring it on, not rotation carry-on

I can't, for the life of me, understand the concept of resting the All Blacks for the opening rounds of Super Rugby.

Gregor Paul: Doubts over Marshall a failing of Auckland

Rugby: Hammett hopes for solid defence

Wynne Gray: Super series withdrawal almost over

Rugby fans, are you dark that the All Blacks missed the big gong at the Halberg Awards, that league has invaded Eden Park and the Super 15 kicks off early tomorrow?

Justin Marshall: Managing June window will be key to winning, just as it was last season

Rugby season is upon us again and for me there is added intrigue in that 2014 might be the last time we see Super rugby in this format.

Rugby: All Blacks trio re sign with NZRU

Rugby: Forget the rest ... it's time for the best

The first round of Super rugby is upon us. For many New Zealand sports lovers, it's time to say goodbye to the lip service they pay to other codes - the real action has begun.