Mission accomplished for the Bulls who moved five-points clear at the top of the Super 14 standings on Saturday with a 51-11 win over the Lions in Pretoria. Gerhard van den Heever scored two of the Bulls’ six second-half tries as they secured the vital bonus point ahead of tough fixtures against the Sharks, Crusaders [...]

Waratahs winger Lachlan Turner took a cross kick on his finger tips then tiptoed for 20 metres just centimetres from the sideline, to help his side to a 19-12 victory over the Brumbies on Saturday. Turner’s try, from a pinpoint Berrick Barnes kick, put the Waratahs 10 points in front, a lead they never relinquished [...]

The Wellington Hurricanes preserved a faint chance of reaching the Super 14 rugby semifinals by beating the Otago Highlanders 33-31 on Saturday in a match in which both teams had four-try bonus points by halftime. Fifty points were scored in the first half – the Hurricanes led 26-24 at halftime – and each side scored [...]

The seven-time champion Crusaders have suffered a shock loss to the Force in their Super 14 clash in Perth on Friday. The Force won 24-16 after trailing 13-0 at half-time. The Force scored three tries through prop Pek Cowan, flank Matt Hodgson and hooker Ben Whittaker. Flyhalf David Hill landed three conversions and a penalty. [...]

The Reds maintained their push for the Super 14 playoffs with another tenacious victory over South African title challengers the Stormers on Friday. The Reds moved to third on the standings midway through the 10th round after a gritty 16-13 win over the Stormers for their third straight win. The Reds have now conquered the [...]

The Chiefs’ winless Super 14 season at home continued on Friday as appalling kicking and second half handling errors saw the Cheetahs sneak a 25-25 draw. The Chiefs scored five tries to three but usually reliable flyhalf Stephen Donald missed all six attempts at goal and Callum Bruce missed another two, keeping the second-from-bottom South [...]

Auckland Blues coach Pat Lam made two changes on Thursday for the Super 14 match with fellow semifinal chasers the Sharks. Lam recalled flanker Serge Lilo and named Peter Saili in place of Viliami Ma’afu at No. 8. With four games remaining in the regular season, both teams need a win to keep their semi-final [...]

Lions coach Dick Muir has made only two injury-enforced changes to the team that lost to the Sharks last weekend, for Saturday’s Super 14 derby match against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. Walter Venter replaces Doppies la Grange at inside centre and Derick Minnie come in for No 8 Todd Clever. Venter, back from injury, [...]

Riaan Swanepoel will play off the bench this week, after John Plumtree opted to start with Andries Strauss at inside centre against the Blues. Swannie went over on an ankle against the Lions last weekend and was in danger of missing out altogether. The only other change to the 22 that beat the Lions sees [...]

The Sharks have a lot riding on Saturday’s match against the Blues in Durban. Not only is it a do-or-die game for the home side but, a win against the Kiwi’s can aid in South Africa’s Super 14 campaign. From a South African perspective though, a win this weekend would take some pressure off the [...]