Only four times in Super Rugby history has the team with the best defensive record in the regular season lifted the trophy but effective defence remains a cornerstone of a tilt towards championship success.
Player of the week is Lions scum-half Ross Cronje who was dynamic against the Waratahs in Johannesburg helping his side beat the visitors 55-36 in a high scoring match.
The 18-team Super Rugby tournament kicked off for the second time after a bustling 2016 campaign and there were points galore amidst a swath of entertaining rugby during the opening round.
There have been six different winners of the trophy across the last seven seasons but New Zealand teams have won 14 of the 21 Super Rugby championships. Will this change in 2017?
Australia players Michael Hooper (Waratahs), James Slipper (Reds), Sam Carter (Brumbies), Tatafu Polota-Nau (Force) and Nic Stirzaker (Rebels) were on hand for the 2017 Australian Super Rugby launch in Brisbane.
SANZAAR has announced the referee team that will officiate the 2017 Super Rugby season. The 19-strong team went through its paces at a training camp in Sydney recently.
SANZAAR has confirmed the fixture list for the 2017 Super Rugby tournament. Amendments have been made to several kick-off times and the venues for matches previously 'to be announced' have now also been confirmed.
The focus in now well and truly on the start of the 2017 Super Rugby season and the teams are in full training and preparing to play warm-up matches in the coming weeks.
The return of Wallaby George Smith to Super Rugby is one of the key storylines for the Australia Conference in 2017. He represented the Wallabies on 111 occasions and is still one of the top flankers in the game.
Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau will look to build on his 68 Test-career in the gold jersey after signing a new one-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union and Western Force.
