Down but not out was Blues coach Leon MacDonald's summation after their 28-34 loss to the Crusaders in Super Rugby Pacific at Eden Park on Saturday night.

The Queensland Reds have defied another fast Fijian Drua finish, hanging on for a 27-24 Super Rugby Pacific win in Brisbane.

The Western Force have missed a chance in New Zealand after the Highlanders escaped with a comeback Super Rugby Pacific win in Invercargill.

A heavy dose of lineout power has carried the Brumbies to a fourth straight Super Rugby Pacific win, seeing off Moana Pasifika in an entertaining, back-and-forth affair in Canberra.

Wing Leicester Fainga'anuku scored three tries for the Christchurch-based Crusaders who held on to beat the Auckland-based Blues 34-28 in a fourth-round match which reprised last year's final in Super Rugby Pacific.