Crusaders lose Moody for playoff

Crusaders prop Joe Moody has been ruled out of their quarter-final against the Sharks with a knee injury.

Read: Scrap Super Rugby conferences

All Blacks captain Kieran Read says Sanzaar should return to a round-robin format for Super Rugby.

Read to go under the knife

Crusaders stalwart Kieran Read is set to undergo back surgery and will miss the start of the 2018 Super Rugby season. Read will have the operation this Saturday, with the expected recovery time likely to be around four months. The Crusaders will open their Super Rugby title defence against the Chiefs at the end of February. Photo: Martin Hunter/AFP Photo

All Blacks to front Wales without Read

Sam Whitelock will captain the All Blacks against Wales in the absence of the injured Kieran Read on Saturday.

Watch: Cynical Read escapes punishment

Kieran Read should have been yellow-carded, and the All Blacks reduced to 13 men for the final nine minutes of their match against Scotland, for this professional foul.