James Horwill was the first of many cards to be dealt over the course of the weekend © Getty Images

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Hurricanes 25-20 Stormers

Another week, another win for the Hurricanes, but a late fightback from the Stormers pushed the hosts to the final minute before the Kiwis could celebrate their unbeaten streak. Despite a lack of possession in the first half, the Canes produced some spectacular tries, none better than what can be considered an early contender for try of the year after they chose to run the ball out of their own 22 and made a 90-metre burst downfield with Ma'a Nonu, TJ Peranara, Brad Shields and Beauden Barrett all getting involved. The lack of possession to the Hurricanes eventually meant little to the hosts as they tllied more than 440 metres with only 32% possession; the visitors meanwhile struggled to bust through the almost unbreakable Hurricanes defence with their 68% possession and 70% territory. However, a lack of discipline will surely be on Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd's mind after they conceded 11 penalties and a penalty-try.

Rebels 23-15 Reds

A James Horwill red card saw the Reds continue their downward spiral with their first loss to the Rebels in Melbourne. A tough night for the Reds was made even worse after Quade Cooper - just a week back from a broken collarbone - was helped off the field with a fractured scapula, while Jake Schatz became another of the walking wounded after he ruptured his elbow tendon. The visitors had earlier made a fantastic start with Schatz and Horwill going over for two early tries but the loss of Horwill ultimately proved the difference; the Rebels finally putting away a tiring Reds side with a try to Nic Stirzaker. With 68% of possession, the hosts should have made easy work of the 14-man side, but they conceded 11 turnovers and 10 penalties as the Reds remained in the hunt until the final minutes.

Chiefs 23-16 Blues

The Chiefs looked anything but title candidates for much of this North Island derby against the winless Blues, but they showed a clinical edge to take maximum advantage of their only two clear-cut try-scoring opportunities - and that ability, to win without playing well, is the mark of a championship team. Anton Lienert-Brown wore the No.12 jumper after the late withdrawal of Sonny Bill Williams, but even the main man would have struggled with the lack of quality ball dished up by the Chiefs pack. The hosts' lineout was shambolic in losing four of 11 lineouts, and the Blues dominated so many more of the attacking stats that one is left to think a more accomplished rival would have defeated the Chiefs. As it was, the Chiefs moved within three points of the undefeated championship leaders, the Hurricanes, while the Blues remain without a win in their campaign.

Brumbies 20-3 Cheetahs

The Brumbies extended their lead atop the Australian Super Rugby conference with a minimum of fuss after opening the scoring as early as the third minute. But they will lament plenty of lost opportunities and the inability to claim a bonus point against a subdued and limited Cheetahs outfit. The Brumbies can be rightly proud of their maul defence that defused the Cheetahs' only weapon until the visitors finally saw fit to free Springboks backs Willie le Roux and Cornal Hendricks late in the second half. But they often seemed static and slow to move the ball in their own offence. Blake Enever scored his first try, on debut, but Matt Toomua was wrongly denied a try for a double movement. Poor execution and improved Cheetahs defence in the second stanza limited the margin of victory, and the Brumbies may live to regret their attacking failures in a match where Henry Speight impressed at outside-centre.

Sharks 10-52 Crusaders

Three yellow cards and a red were just some of the memorable moments during the Crusaders' hammering of the wayward Sharks in Durban. Both sides felt the bite of losing players to the sin-bin, with the Sharks down to 14-men for the second half, while the Crusaders were down to just 12-men at the end of the first half. But despite the loss of three men within four minutes, the Crusaders held most of the possession for the match and found the line eight times while holding the Sharks to just one try. Unlike last year when Jean Deysel was red carded against the Crusaders, the Sharks couldn't pull out a miraculous win; the Crusaders shredded the home defence, the tourists making 17 clean breaks.

Lions 22-18 Bulls

The Lions clawed their way into 10th place on the Super Rugby table after they shocked the Bulls with a last-gasp try in Johannesburg. Shocking many, the Lions decided to gamble it all and chanced a final run for the line instead of taking a simple penalty goal that would have drawn the game. Instead substitute hooker Armand van der Merwe snatched a five-pointer and broke the Bulls' hearts. Despite the result, the Bulls moved up five places on the table. The match proved a battle of the boot in wet conditions, with both fly-halves hammering penalties around the field, before the Lions' last-minute gamble secured a fourth win in five starts.