Super Rugby

Reece gets Crusaders start after domestic violence charge

The 22-year-old will make his Crusaders debut in the match against the Chiefs in Christchurch on Saturday night, five months after the District Court in Hamilton fined him $750 and discharged him without conviction for the assault in July.

The Fiji-born back had initially signed to play with Irish side Connacht last year, but the club tore up the contract in the wake of the court case.

Robertson said he had "never" had any concerns about Reece, who was called into the Crusaders' pre-season camp after being spurned by New Zealand's other four Super Rugby franchises.

Kieran Read to miss more time for Crusaders

Assistant coach Jason Ryan has revealed that the All Blacks captain will miss his original deadline for a return to Super Rugby, which was originally set at four weeks.

"[Read] is two or three, probably, weeks away. We are not 100 per cent sure yet," Ryan said.

"We will just see how he goes. He is back into his training, and so forth. We are pretty confident."

That could see him sidelined until the Crusaders' clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington on March 29.

Laumape hat-trick fuels Hurricanes to win over Brumbies

Hurricanes captain Dane Coles also crossed twice while James Blackwell scored after the final hooter for the home side, who were given no ball or space last week by the Crusaders, but were at their dynamic best as they played at pace and attacked from anywhere on the field.

Hooker Folau Fainga'a and Tom Wright crossed for the Brumbies, who showed signs of the play that destroyed the Waikato Chiefs 54-17 last week but were forced to chase the Hurricanes in the second half.

Highlanders beaten by Rebels

Melbourne playmaker Quade Cooper worked his magic to help the Rebels maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

In a heart-stopping finish, the Highlanders looked for a match winner in the 78th minute as flanker Shannon Frizell tried to plant the ball down over the line, but the Television Match Official (TMO) ruled he had dropped it.

The Rebels set up the victory with four classy tries, all scored by their backs.

Cooper showed off his array of skills to set up two of those as he settled into his new AAMI Park home.

Waratahs stunned at Latu's suspension but accept ban

NSW grudgingly accepted a six-match suspension for Latu on Tuesday after he plead guilty to a dangerous charge into a ruck or maul, under law 9.20, against the Sunwolves.

Ed Quirk suffered a knee injury in a 79th minute incident, and though appearing to have a case to argue Latu was within his rights to tackle the ball carrier, the Waratahs plead guilty and anticipated a mid-range, 3-4 week penalty.

Spear tackles usually attract four week bans, and Bulls forward Pierre Schoeman was suspended for six weeks last year for biting Richard Hardwick.

Brumbies set to welcome Pocock back for 'Canes

Pocock suffered a concussion in the first five minutes of the Brumbies’ round one clash with the Rebels and missed last weekend’s match against the Chiefs.

The superstar flanker is expected to be fit for Friday night’s game in Wellington and Banks said the turnover machine would be a valuable addition.

“He's a world-class player,” he said.

“The thing he brings is the turnovers he can bring it just helps us as a backline to attack unstructured defences.

“That's what we try and do and he's the best at getting turnovers.”

Crusaders beat Blues in Super Rugby opener

The nine-time champions scored four tries to three on Saturday at Eden Park, but only clung to victory when Blues reserve five-eighth Harry Plummer missed two late shots at goal.

Making his maiden Super Rugby appearance, Plummer skewed a handy conversion attempt and then a 45m penalty shot, both inside the final seven minutes of a fiercely fought Kiwi derby.

It was a gut-wrenching result for new Blues head coach Leon MacDonald, whose team look highly competitive and capable of breaking a seven-season run of failing to reach the finals.

Foley miss seals Hurricanes win

Foley, who surpassed Matthew Burke's record of 959 points with a third-minute penalty goal at Brookvale Oval, had landed all five of his earlier attempts on Saturday night.

But with just over a minute left, the normally reliable pressure kicker failed to land a penalty from just beyond 30 metres, to the horror of most of the 17,111 sellout crowd.

Marty Banks back as Highlanders first-five

With former All Black Lima Sopoaga moving to English side Wasps, the Highlanders have brought Banks back to run the cutter alongside young playmakers Otago's Josh Ioane and North Harbour's Bryn Gatland.

Banks will play for the Highlanders an agreement was finalised with his Japanese side NTT Docomo and the Highlanders.

Seven changes to Chiefs lineup

Due to All Blacks commitments Damian McKenzie, Brodie Retallick, Anton Leinert-Brown and Nathan Harris have returned to New Zealand following last week's win over the Stormers in Cape Town.

Add to that the injury toll the chiefs have suffered and they're without a total of 20 players for the match.

In the forwards, Liam Polwart starts at hooker for Harris, Tyler Ardron moves to lock in place of Retallick and Pita Gus Sowakula gets a start in the number eight jersey.