The ACT Brumbies have dug deep to protect their perfect home record this Super Rugby Pacific season and return to second on the ladder with a 48-32 win over the Highlanders in Canberra.
The NSW Waratahs have regained the Weary Dunlop Shield and dealt Melbourne's Super Rugby Pacific finals hopes a potentially fatal blow with a spirited 38-20 comeback win in Sydney.
Moana Pasifika have been overrun in Wellington, where the Hurricanes scored their first try inside two minutes and added 10 more in a record 71-22 win, their eighth victory from 11 matches.
The Queensland Reds have broken their New Zealand hoodoo and ended the Chiefs' unbeaten season with a stunning Super Rugby Pacific upset in New Plymouth.
Circumstances, and the demands of Super Rugby Pacific, have not made life any easier for the Highlanders, who travel to Canberra to play the Brumbies on Sunday.
Noah Lolesio has sent a message to Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and five-eighth rival Carter Gordon as he helped the Brumbies to a thrilling 33-26 Super Rugby Pacific victory over the Melbourne Rebels.
The NSW Waratahs have taken an important step in a race for the last three Super Rugby Pacific finals berths by leapfrogging interstate rivals Queensland with a 32-24 victory.
Former All Blacks winger Julian Savea has scored two tries in a losing cause to join Israel Folau as the all-time top try-scorer in Super Rugby as the Hurricanes were beaten 27-24 by the Fijian Drua in Suva.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie and fullback Shaun Stevenson led the Chiefs counter-attacking game as the Hamilton-based team beat the Dunedin-based Highlanders 52-28 to extend their winning start to the season in Super Rugby Pacific to 10 matches.
Having been without star player Will Jordan this season, the Crusaders are looking for a boost in Saturday's DHL Super Rugby Pacific game with the Force in Christchurch.
