The Hurricanes look home and hosed in the New Zealand conference, but only after a controversial night in Wellington on Saturday - a trend that repeated in the next game in Sydney. Dave Rennie was left to fume about a disallowed try from scrum-half Augustine Pulu, a decision the Chiefs coach labelled a "season-defining" mistake. The error in Sydney may not have been season-defining for the Sharks, but they, too, looked to be have dudded by the TMO in their loss to the Waratahs. On what was a forgettable night for the officials, the Waratahs appeared very fortunate to be awarded a try to Taqele Naiyaravoro.

Blues 23-18 Bulls

The Blues secured just their third win of the season in extending the Bulls' two-year winless run outside South Africa. But the win came at a cost for the home side, with Steven Luatua joining a long injury list. Written off entering the match after a turbulent week at home, the Blues made the most of their chances in the opening half despite a lack of possession, with Lolagi Visinia running in what was easily the try of the match. The Bulls, in contrast, struggled to turn possession into points in the early stages and they went into the half-time break down by two despite a solid run from Handre Pollard to send Jan Serfontein over the chalk. Coming out firing in the second, the Bulls saw Serfontein over again quickly; but the Aucklanders began to control proceedings and the lead. The Bulls at least managed a losing bonus point to go to the top of the South African table, while the win may just ease a little of the pressure on Blues coach Sir John Kirwan.

Reds 46-29 Rebels

Reds coaching consultant John Connolly has seemingly turned the side around from a "disgraceful" mess to a slick attacking unit in one week. Despite a poor start, which saw the Rebels take an easy lead - and produce what could be their try of the season - the Reds came out firing in the second half to produce arguably their best half of rugby under besieged coach Richard Graham, crashing over five times within 20 minutes. How different to the first half, when the Rebels started strongly and put Sefenaia Naivalu over for a double; but the visitors appeared to shut up shop when they returned after the break, and a yellow-card to fly-half Jack Debrezceni left them undermanned against a red-hot Reds team. The Reds played their 11th fly-half in five years in Jake McIntyre, and the Australian Under-20 playmaker created magic with the first of their three tries in a 10-minute stretch that snuffed out Melbourne's hopes. The result ended the Rebels' dream run and put them eight points outside the Australian conference-leading Brumbies, while it could also help to secure Graham's future with the Reds.

The Hurricanes managed to hold off a spirited Chiefs side in Wellington © Getty Images

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Hurricanes 22-18 Chiefs

A controversial call to disallow a Chiefs try in the final minutes of the match saw the Hurricanes all but wrap up a home play-off spot and break a club record in the process, winning 11 games in a season. In a tight, physical contest, the Hurricanes broke through early with Ma'a Nonu crashing over under the posts in the ninth minute. The Chiefs held most of the possession (55%) and territory (58%) in the opening stanza, but it wasn't until Charlie Ngatai broke away to score a try just on half-time that the visitors really got themselves into the match. The two-time champions continued to maintain most of the possession in the second half, but the loss of locks Michael Fitzgerald and Michael Allardice - the latter to what looked like a horrible knee injury - proved costly. The Canes made two great runs downfield, but both tries were disallowed before Nonu hung onto an awesome intercept to go over again for his 50th Super Rugby try. The Chiefs' fightback continued with Sam Cane finding the line, but they were then denied the match-winner inside the final minutes as they hammered away at the Hurricanes' line.

Waratahs 33-16 Sharks

An opening-minute try to Adam Ashley-Cooper should have set the tone for the Waratahs, but the shambolic performance of the referee that proved the biggest talking point of the game. In a fiery match-up that saw plenty of scuffles, the Tahs took control early but leaked points through poor handling and scrummaging that gave the Sharks plenty of opportunities in the opening half. The Tahs continued to create plenty of opportunities but simple errors put them on the back foot early in the second stanza and an impressive cross-field kick from a penalty caught the hosts napping; Sharks fly-half Lionel Cronje kicking to his wing Odwa Ndungane to send him over in the corner untouched. Another blockbusting run from Tahs winger Taqele Naiyaravoro, who was somehow given the green light by the TMO, gave the side a nine-point buffer, before Frans Steyn punched through a gap to get the Sharks within two-points. Poor calls went against the Sharks, but the visitors nevertheless looked to have clawed their way in front when JP Pietersen made a strong sideline break; a controversial no-try call from the TMO gave the Tahs some breathing room, and a Bernard Foley try in the final minute gave the home side a far more flattering scoreline than they probably deserved.

Lions 20-30 Brumbies

The Brumbies are back on top of the Australian conference following an impressive 10-point win over the Lions in Johannesburg. The bonus-point win was the ideal response to last week's ordinary effort against the Stormers, but it may yet come at a cost; playmaker Matt Toomua seemingly re-injuring his ankle in just his first game back. That was the only dampener on an otherwise polished effort from the visitors, who raced out to a 22-7 lead after 27 minutes and, despite feeling the effects altitude, managed to do enough to deny the Lions in the closing stages. Tries to Ita Vaea, Christian Leali'ifano and Tevita Kuridrani had the Brumbies in fine shape in the first half but it wasn't until Jesse Mogg floated a wonderful ball across to Joe Tomane that the visitors looked completely safe. It was a disappointing effort from the Lions, who failed to make the most of the Bulls' loss in Auckland and the Stormers' bye week; the Joburg side could have gone top of the conference with a win.

Cheetahs 24-45 Highlanders

The Highlanders have put themselves right in contention for a play-offs spot with a fine attacking display against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. The hosts had no answer to the free-running Highlanders who were prepared to attack from deep inside their own half and reaped the rewards of their expanse. Half-back Aaron Smith was again at the heart of everything the visitors did well, while Super Rugby debutant Ryan Tongia picked up a double of his own - including a brilliant chip-and-chase effort that highlighted the difference in skill between the two sides. Locked on 39 points alongside the Chiefs, the Highlanders have a tough closing run of games with just one more home fixture to come in Invercargill. But they certainly have the game to trouble any side in the competition, although coach Jamie Joseph still must find rest weeks for Smith, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa.