Will the Springboks return from their crucial Tri-Nations Test in Hamilton as conquering heroes or nearly men?

The All Blacks have taken a leaf out of the Wallabies' book for Saturday's make-or-break Tri-Nations Test against the Springboks.

Sachin Tendulkar added a commanding innings of 160 to his world record list of 42 Test centuries on the third day of the Test against New Zealand.

Flyhalf Stephen Donald passed 100 points for the season as the Waikato Chiefs beat the Canterbury Crusaders 18-5 in Super 14 rugby on Friday, ending the first-place Crusaders' eight-match unbeaten streak. Donald kicked two penalties and a conversion and had a hand in the two tries that gave the Chiefs an 18-0 lead at half-time.

Waikato wing Lelia Masaga scored twice as the Chiefs outplayed Otago Highlanders 39-24 in an all-New Zealand Super 14 clash in Hamilton on Saturday. Masaga scored either side of halftime as the Chiefs piled on six tries to secure a bonus point and remain in the top half of the standings midway through the season.

New Zealand thrashed England by 189 runs in the first cricket Test on Sunday when England's second innings disintegrated after Kyle Mills ripped through the top order. Set a tempting target of 300 to win in 81 overs, England were all out for 110 with 26 overs and a full session of play remaining.

A sensational hat-trick by Ryan Sidebottom shattered New Zealand's run charge and ignited an England fightback on day four of the first cricket Test on Saturday. New Zealand, who had been in control and rapidly building a challenging target, lost five wickets in 29 balls to be left struggling at 147-8 in their second innings.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen said the 42 runs he painstakingly scratched out against New Zealand on the third day of the first Test was one of the best Test innings he had played for his country. The aggressive and flamboyant Pietersen took 131 balls to make 42, in England's total of 286 for six at the close of play on Friday.

England slipped to 87-2 in reply to New Zealand's 470 all out at the close of play on the second day of the first Test on Thursday. Michael Vaughan was 44 not out with Andrew Strauss on one after Chris Martin took two late wickets. England were 383 runs behind on the first innings.

The prized wicket of New Zealand's big-hitting Brendon McCullum just before stumps gave England a slight edge on the opening day of the first cricket Test on Wednesday. New Zealand ended the day at 282-6 after an 86-run partnership between McCullum and Ross Taylor had lifted them out of a middle-order hole.