Rugby: Relaxed Bulls keep lead as rivals crash

Hurricanes first-five Aaron Cruden struggled in his run-on debut. Photo / Getty Images

The Bulls attended a braai over the weekend, repaired their injuries and saluted their Super 14 lead.

While the defending champions had a week off, the chasing Chiefs and Hurricanes blew their chances to overhaul the titleholders as they stumbled to sloppy defeats.

The Chiefs looked like they could put 50 points on the Reds after a rampaging opening quarter. An hour later the hosts wandered off their homepatch in Hamilton scarcely believing a scoreboard which showed a 23-18 victory to the visitors.

It was a messy homecoming for the Chiefs after three sturdy wins in South Africa and Perth. They unpicked some of that gloss with their untidy finish and on Friday, face the might of the Crusaders who are solidly grafting their game together.

In Bloemfontein, the Hurricanes were similarly untidy.

Their indiscipline cost them as the twin howitzer boots of Meyer Bosman and Naas Olivier kicked the Cheetahs to their 28-12 victory. Without the injured Conrad Smith and Tamati Ellison there was an unruly look to the backline compounded when referee Bryce Lawrence sinbinned Ma'a Nonu for a dangerous tackle.

Young first five-eighths Aaron Cruden found it tough to settle with the ragged possession flow from his pack as he made his run-on debut in a team performance of multiple mistakes.

"This was a game we targeted to win but the Cheetahs showed us how to play and they beat us at our own game really," captain Andrew Hore said.

The Hurricanes now meet the Stormers who were most impressive in keeping the Highlanders scoreless in Cape Town.

Halfback Jimmy Cowan broke a finger, the lineouts malfunctioned while the Highlanders had difficulty containing the Stormers' rolling maul.

Their assignment book does not get any easier as they are drawn to visit the Bullpen in Pretoria this weekend.

After the victorious glow around New Zealand teams in the third round - all five Kiwi franchises tasting victory - the Crusaders claimed the solitary win this weekend when they stood up to the stirring Blues examination and then put them away in the final quarter.

Daniel Carter purred through a faultless goalkicking night and laid on a try in preparation for this week's comparison with his national understudy, Stephen Donald and the Chiefs. After great success away from home, Donald could not find the same accuracy in Hamilton.

Wider out in the Crusaders' backline, Robbie Fruean scored his first try in the series with the sort of burst which drew rave reviews and his player of the tournament award at the IRB World under-19 series.

Meanwhile, the cellar-dwelling Force had a bye to contemplate their injury toll and points-free collection before what looms as a rancorous match against the Reds if they digested some of Van Humphries' colourful teamtalk advice he gave teammates at the weekend.

Last year's finalists, the Sharks, also remain winless although they claimed referee Paul Marks should have awarded them a penalty try late in their game against the Waratahs.