Last year’s beaten finalists Golden Lions are desperate to end a three-match losing streak and protect an impressive unbeaten run in local derbies
A rampaging Robbie Fruean scored a try in each half to fire the Canterbury Crusaders to a 37-33 away win over the New South Wales Waratahs.
The NSW Waratahs tossed aside the Melbourne Rebels four tries to one for a bonus-point 35-19 win in their Super Rugby derby in Melbourne.
Australia’s Queensland Reds say they have no fears as they seek to defend their Super Rugby crown when the season begins this week.
The Auckland Blues dispatched an injury-ravaged Waratahs 26-13 at a wet Eden Park on Friday to reach the Super Rugby semifinals.
Waratahs skipper Phil Waugh has said he will quit rugby at the end of the season, after playing for the Wallabies at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The Waratahs ground out a 20-15 victory over the Western Force to continue their pursuit of the Reds at the top of the Australian conference.
The impact of injuries will be heavily felt in the Super 15 tournament as teams with the ability to replace key players are favoured in matches.
Replacement lock Sitaleki Timani scored a last-gasp try to give the New South Wales Waratahs a 29-22 victory over the ACT Brumbies.
The Waratahs gave the Melbourne Rebels a rude welcome to Super rugby on Friday, running in seven tries in a ruthless 43-0 trouncing.
The New South Wales Waratahs put their campaign to reach the play-offs back on track with an emphatic 46-19 win over the Waikato Chiefs on Saturday.
Waratahs winger Lachlan Turner took a kick on his finger tips then tiptoed for 20m just centimetres from the sideline, to help his side to victory.
Wallabies number eight Wycliff Palua will need reconstruction surgery on a knee injury and will be out for the remainder of the season.
Al Baxter scored his first Super rugby try in his 100th match for the New South Wales Waratahs to help his team thrash the Cheetahs 40-17.
New South Wales winger Lachlan Turner scored an intercept try with seven minutes remaining to help his side to a 39-32 victory over the Blues.
Kevin de Klerk, president of the Golden Lions Rugby Union, will fly to New Zealand next week to provide moral support to his team.
The New South Wales Waratahs overcame a dismal ball-handling and kicking display to wear down the Sharks 25-21 in a dour Super 14 match on Saturday.
Wing Bryan Habana grabbed two second-half tries to help the Stormers beat the New South Wales Waratahs 27-6 in the Super 14 on Saturday.
The Bulls will know by about 11.30am on Friday what they have to do the next day against the Sharks to head the Super 14 log for a home semifinal.
The Waratahs kept their Vodacom Super 14 play-off dreams alive but essentially destroyed the Sharks’ as they defeated the coastal franchise 16-12.
