Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder has predictably made no changes for Saturday night's Super Rugby grand final against the Waratahs in Sydney. Given the way his team dismantled the Sharks 38-6 in Christchurch last weekend there was always an expectation Blackadder would roll out the same side for the showdown at the Olympic Park's ANZ Stadium.... Continue Reading →

Look at the Crusaders and see an All Blacks mentality, which is why they are my favourites. After what I saw them do to the Highlanders, I'm even more convinced of their ability to win this from here. This is the part of the season they love. They have managed their All Blacks superbly and... Continue Reading →

For Richie McCaw the job of preparing for big rugby matches should be as simple as flicking dust off his shoes. That, he says, is nonsense - the anxiety will never go away. Despite playing 127 tests, appearing in three World Cups and making 137 appearances for the Crusaders, the 33-year-old flanker still finds himself... Continue Reading →

The Sharks returned home yesterday humbled by the scale of their 38-6 reverse against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby semi-final but they offered no excuses, and their coach Jake White took the optimistic view that valuable lessons had been learned by coaching staff and players alike in their first season together. “We just did... Continue Reading →

Just not good enough on the day is how it appeared in the weekend’s Super Rugby semi-final defeat for the Sharks against the Crusaders in Christchurch, but is there more to it than meets the eye for a a Durban team than has been in more semi-finals and finals than any other South African team... Continue Reading →

Prince recently revealed that he has another complete full-length album – separate from Plectrum Electrum, which he recorded with 3rd Eye Girl – that he hopes to release sometime in the near future. The as-yet-untitled record contains two particularly notable songs: One is an “aggressive and menacing” rap song, according to a Minneapolis Star Tribune... Continue Reading →

In all honesty, very few people saw this one coming, which makes the scale and manner of this embarrassing defeat all the more unpalatable for the good folk of KwaZulu-Natal and beyond. Most expected the Sharks to lose the semi-final – there are lists of compelling statistics telling us they were not going to win... Continue Reading →

Tomorrow morning’s tumultuous Super Rugby showdown between the Crusaders and the Sharks (9.35am) has all the fiery ingredients to make it one of the classic semi-finals. It is going to be brutal, uncompromising and a teeth-clenching arm wrestle from first whistle to last. At least that is how the Sharks are going to be play... Continue Reading →

Any Crusaders players giving away needless penalties during Saturday night's Super Rugby semifinal risk receiving a death stare from Kieran Read. Captain and No 8 Read said the Crusaders, who watched Frans Steyn kick four penalties and two conversions to help vanquish the Highlanders 31-27 during last Sunday morning's qualifying final in Durban, know they... Continue Reading →

Losing to the Sharks in pool play was so unlike the Crusaders. At home and with a man advantage after Jean Deysel was sent off early, the Crusaders rarely got out of third gear and certainly did not engage their rugby brains. They failed to press through the middle and then spread the ball wide... Continue Reading →

Losing to the Sharks in pool play was so unlike the Crusaders. At home and with a man advantage after Jean Deysel was sent off early, the Crusaders rarely got out of third gear and certainly did not engage their rugby brains. They failed to press through the middle and then spread the ball wide... Continue Reading →

Starting Richie McCaw at blindside flanker may be the only Crusaders team change for their Super Rugby semifinal with the Sharks on Saturday night. Although Todd Blackadder stopped short of confirming McCaw's fractured rib had healed, he's hopeful the All Blacks captain will be declared fit to play at AMI Stadium. McCaw, who hasn't played... Continue Reading →

Reason One: Follow the beef. Rugby games are almost never won by the team with the weakest forward pack. When you add Richie McCaw to the mix, the Crusaders have strength in the scrums (think Wyatt Crockett and Owen Franks), height and skill in the lineouts (Sam Whitelock, Dominic Bird), metre makers in the loose... Continue Reading →

Come join to celebrate Blacks Only Comedy shows Ten Year Anniversary! The Blacks Only Comedy Show has become one of the most anticipated events on the social calendar and showcases the country`s top black comedians and this August we celebrate ten happy years as the biggest selling comedy brand in the country. Join award winning... Continue Reading →