Melbourne have put a major dent in the Western Force's Super Rugby Pacific finals aspirations and farewelled Rebels stalwart Reece Hodge from AAMI Park as a winner with a thumping 52-14 victory.
A last-minute try has robbed the Queensland Reds of just their second win in 27 years in Dunedin and left the injury-hit side in grave danger of missing the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
Building on their effort against the Reds last week when playing the Hurricanes at Eden Park on Saturday is driving the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific game.
ACT Brumbies lock Nick Frost believes the side is putting any distraction of a potential home quarter-final behind them as they prepare for a blockbuster match against the Chiefs.
There are two rounds remaining in the Super Rugby Pacific regular season and there are only six points separating 8th and 11th as the fight intensifies for the final playoff spot.
Getting rare time together on their two-week Australian visit was just the tonic for a Chiefs team that showed some frayed edges in beating the Hurricanes 23-12 in their Super Rugby Pacific game in Hamilton.
Young fullback Max Jorgensen has shown his playmaking skills as the.NSW Waratahs maintained their late season Super Rugby Pacific surge with a 32-18 home win over Fijian Drua in Sydney.
The Melbourne Rebels' slim hopes of making the Super Rugby Pacific finals have suffered a hammer blow after their clash with the Highlanders ended in heartbreaking fashion in Dunedin.
Beauden Barrett spun a web around the Queensland Reds before limping off as the Blues inflicted a 45-26 win in Brad Thorn's last game as coach at Suncorp Stadium.
Consistency, especially against the top teams in Super Rugby Pacific, continues to elude the Blues, and things will be more challenging in Brisbane on Friday against a confident Reds team.
NSW Waratahs lock Hugh Sinclair believes a new-found training intensity inspired by Wallabies coach Eddie Jones can help the side make a late-season push.
