| super 14
Super 14 week six stuck to the form book at the start of Friday as the Canterbury Crusaders brushed aside the Cats.
Six tries helped the table-toppers to a comfortable 43-15 victory in Christchurch, leaving the South Africans with only one win in six matches.
New Zealand internationals Leon MacDonald and Aaron Mauger helped themselves to two tries apiece in a clinical display, which also saw All Black second row Chris Jack and scrum half Andrew Ellis cross the whitewash.
The difference between the two sides was all too clear as the Cats enjoyed plenty of possession, without really looking like taking the initiative in the contest.
Even an opening try from Wikus van Heerden did little to worry the champions, who struck back immediately through MacDonald, the full back going over after a typically penetrating backline move.
Mauger's first try followed before Kleinjan Tromp was able to level matters at the interval, but the Crusaders soon turned on yet another stunning second half display to cruise to victory.
On came rested duo Jack and Richie McCaw, and four tries followed, with Mauger's second the pick of the bunch, gathering his own clever chip to score.
NSW Waratahs kept hot on the heels of the Crusaders in second place with a thumping 32-7 win over Western Force.
Wendell Sailor, returning from an internal suspension after a nightclub incident, notched two tries as the Waratahs claimed a bonus-point win in Perth.
Second row Al Kanaar and Will Caldwell also got themselves on the scoresheet for the visitors, who controlled the match from start to finish.
The result adds to the woe of bottom side Western Force, who only had a solitary Haig Sare touchdown to show for their efforts.
Wellington Hurricanes scored a controversial 26-23 win over Northern Bulls, after captain Andrew Hore touched down for the New Zealanders with just three minutes remaining.
But, with the visitors celebrating their second win in three South African outings at the final whistle, the Bulls were left fuming over a controversial second-half decision.
After winger Akona Ndungane had gone over for the home side on 55 minutes, the television match official decided that the South African "had no control over the ball".
But replays suggested that Ndungane had grounded the ball with the front of his body above the waist, with members of the 39,000 crowd subsequently gesturing angrily at the official concerned.
The win has lifted the Hurricanes to second place in the table.
Saturday got off to somewhat of a surprising start as Auckland Blues beat ACT Brumbies 26-15 at Eden Park.
Centre Anthony Tuitavake was the major difference between the two sides, playing a major part in all three Auckland tries as they recorded only their second win of the season.
Tuitavake, Troy Flavell and Isa Nacewa all crossed the whitewash in a strong performance, with two of the scores coming from long-distance breaks from the centre.
Clyde Rathbone and Joel Wilson replied for the visitors, but their handling cost them any chance of a comeback.
Auckland hooker Keven Mealamu admitted it was high-time the Blues produced in the Super 14 campaign, and he told Sky Sports: "I think that bye week was very timely for us because it gave us some time to work on those little things that could change our game.
"The quality of ball wasn't good enough but today we took a step up even though there's still plenty of room to get better."
Later, it was the turn of Tony Brown to star as the Sharks beat Otago Highlanders 26-11.
Focus was always going to be on fly half Brown against his former club, and he did not disappoint, producing some fine tactical kicking to give his teammates a foundation on which to play.
Odwa Ndugane, Henno Metz and Jacques Botes added to tries to a fine performance from the Sharks, who move to within two points of their opponents.
Richard Kahui grabbed the Highlanders' only score, as they struggled to build any momentum whilst Brown kept them on the back foot.
Botes' match-clinching try provided the moment of the match late on, forcing his way past Ben Blair before racing 40 yards to the line.
Friday
Canterbury Crusaders 43-15 Cats
Western Force 7-32 NSW Waratahs
Bulls 23-26 Hurricanes
Saturday
Auckland Blues 26-15 ACT Brumbies
Highlanders 11-26 Sharks
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