Aaron Cruden sounded like a captain who didn't know whether to laugh or cry after another staggering comeback draw in South Africa.

Highlanders winger Kurt Baker has been cited for a lifting tackle during his side's 33-30 win over the Rebels in Dunedin on Friday night.

The franchise has a week off to fix the walking wounded and find form. Gregor Paul analyses their work so far.

It used to be that New Zealand was no country for old men. Now it seems it is a place only for old men.

After a steady start to the Super 15, Julian Savea exploded against the Crusaders.

After a loss and a draw to date on their tour, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie says it's essential his side triumph in the final fixture of their road trip.

Ellis Park, that bastion of South African rugby, is where the Crusaders will undergo a severe test of their spirit tomorrow morning.

The road trip blues continue for Sir John Kirwan following his side's loss against the Brumbies at a wet Canberra Stadium.

I have spent the past week with my head buried in spreadsheets. This is horrifying to me for a number of reasons, two of which being I have wasted my entire adult life making bad jokes about my brother being an accountant...

The comeback against the Bulls was created by long-range raids but the Chiefs would be content with scoring in less spectacular style.

The Highlanders return to the cosy confines of Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin tonight to give us some great opportunities in round eight of Dream Team Fantasy Super Rugby.

The Hurricanes won't lack for clear communication this weekend. As Mark Hammett's side welcome back Victor Vito and Cory Jane from their injuries, the international pair bring with them a dose of leadership.

Chiefs forwards coach Tom Coventry knows opposition sides will target his team's lineout - it's exactly what he would do.

The Blues are about to face an Australian side for the first time this season and the Brumbies' resurgent scrum, which has reaped two penalty tries in as many weeks, could pose a new set of problems.

These last few weeks have seen an increasing number of players indulge in unnecessary, cheap stuff that is designed to infuriate opponents, writes Gregor Paul.

With no sign of any public announcement about the future of Super rugby, Australia has revealed they pushed for a two conference model linked to Asia.

Paul Gallen hopes Andrew Fifita will stay with Cronulla but the Sharks skipper says he isn't going to pressure the representative star to do so.

The Blues' progress of the past fortnight is in danger of being derailed by injuries as they prepare to face the Brumbies in Canberra high on confidence but low on personnel.

Former Blues coaches Joe Schmidt and David Nucifora are about to pool their rugby knowledge once more but this time their roles will be reversed.

Those with an interest in Blues rugby and mathematics would have been heartened by the sequence which unfolded at Eden Park.

The defending Super Rugby champion Chiefs are defying injuries, set-piece woes, savvy opponents and statistics to remain in pole position in the New Zealand conference.