All Blacks overcome Pumas to reach semis

New Zealand eased into the World Cup semi-finals with a sometimes nervous but ultimately comfortable 33-10 victory over a dogged Argentina.

Brad Thorn is 'not a dirty player'

The All Blacks insisted on Sunday that errant lock Brad Thorn did not have a disciplinary problem after a second yellow card of the season.

Angry Smit slams double standards

Injured Springbok captain John Smit returned home to SA on Wednesday angered over the one-match suspension handed to All Black lock Brad Thorn.

Thorn suspension blights All Blacks victory

New Zealand's emphatic 19-8 victory over world champions South Africa was marred by the one-game suspension handed down to lock Brad Thorn.

All Blacks name revamped side for Ireland Test

New Zealand named a revamped side on Tuesday for their opening rugby Test of the season against Ireland, selecting only six of the team who lost last year's World Cup quarterfinal to France. Winger Anthony Tuitavake is the only new cap in the starting line-up, with three more new faces on the reserves bench.

Crusaders capture Super 14 title

The Canterbury Crusaders won the Super 14 title on Saturday with a 20-12 victory over the New South Wales Waratahs in Christchurch, New Zealand. Trailing by a point at half-time, the Crusaders stormed home on the boot of All Black flyhalf Dan Carter, who kicked four penalties and a drop goal for a personal tally of 15 points.

Crusaders shrug off the Lions

All-conquering Super 14 leaders the Canterbury Crusaders shrugged off wholesale changes to their line-up to thrash bottom-placed Golden Lions 31-6 in Christchurch on Saturday. With their novices to the fore, the unbeaten Crusaders took maximum points as they reversed a 3-6 deficit at half-time.

Crusaders hit top gear to tame Brumbies

The Canterbury Crusaders moved straight into top gear as they started the new Super 14 season with a convincing 34-3 win over the ACT Brumbies on Friday. The four-try effort ensured maximum points for the perennial favourites, who have won the championship six times.

Super 14: New year, new ball game

The new Super 14 season, which begins on Friday, could help determine whether South Africa's dominance of world rugby was a one-year wonder. South Africa provided both teams in last year's Super 14 final -- the Bulls beat the Sharks -- and the Springboks went on to win the sixth World Cup in France.

IN THIS WEEK'S PAPER

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