Super Rugby

The 20-year-old rookie, who missed two handy kicks late in the opening-round defeat to the Crusaders on the same ground, stepped up with time up, the scores locked at 22-22, and victory over the visiting Bulls on his right boot.

It was a tricky kick, after a high tackle on loose forward Tom Robinson near the sideline, but he looked confident enough. It was false optimism, as the kick faded right and the Blues ended with their first draw of the season to pretty much scupper their faint hopes of ending their eight-year playoff drought.

Read's inclusion at No 8 for the first time since the Crusaders' comprehensive win against the Bulls in Pretoria on May 10 is one of only a few changes to the starting XV for their round 16 clash against the Chiefs in Suva. 

Read, who has only played six matches this season, missed the team's 19-19 draw with the Stormers in Cape Town after taking a blow to the shoulder/neck at training, and likely wouldn't have been risked last week against the Blues, had he not been on a pre-determined All Blacks rest week. 

Those will be will be the driving forces behind the Waratahs in their last three games, according to Kurtley Beale, despite the fact NSW will need a miracle to make the finals.

The Waratahs crashing to an eighth loss for the season on Saturday night against the Jaguares left them sitting in 12th on the ladder, eight points behind the Brumbies and seven behind the Rebels, and four points outside the top eight.

Mo'unga slotted four penalties and provided a deft chip kick over the defensive line that led to Bryn Hall's first half try in a stop-start match that never really got any flow on.

Blues counterpart Harry Plummer kicked two penalties for the visitors, who struggled in the set piece and did not threaten the Crusaders' line until Rieko Ioane crossed in the 71st minute.

The Crusaders moved to 53 points with the victory, 13 ahead of the second-placed Hurricanes, who have a bye this week

Pita Sowakula, Atu Moli and Etene Nanai-Seturo scored first half tries for the Chiefs, who spent virtually all of the second spell defending as the Reds controlled the ball but were unable to breach the home side's impressive defensive line.

Taniela Tupou scored the only points of the second half with a try from a sustained buildup as the visitors hammered at the Chiefs' line.

The visitors forced the Chiefs to make 240 tackles in the game.

The Reds made less than 90.

A week after Naholo was named to face the Lions and then withdrawn, the All Blacks wing has been handed a start against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday (1.05am, NZ time).

Naholo goes straight back into the No 14 jersey for the crucial game against the Stormers, with the Highlanders desperate for a win to keep themselves in a playoffs spot before they have a bye week.

"Waisake has come through the week well," Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger said on Friday.

Although the Crusaders and NZ Rugby are yet to receive a report from the independent research company they engaged to consult fans and stakeholders following the terror attacks on two mosques in Christchurch on March 15, it's understood the Super Rugby club is bracing itself to make major changes.

This could require the club to either change, or amend, its name.

A review of the club's title and imagery was approved soon after the shootings in the city, with Research First asked to provide feedback and recommendations.

The Blues' 23-8, four tries to one, victory ended a 15-match unbeaten streak from the Chiefs against their northern neighbours dating back to 2011. It has also breathed life back into the Auckland outfit's faltering season after they had lost their previous four to slip all but out of the playoff race.

It did not look promising when the Blues bumbled their way through the opening quarter to trail 5-0, but eventually they worked into a 10-8 halftime lead and closed the deal well with two crucial second-half tries to forwards Ofa Tu'ungafasi and Gerard Cowley-Tuioti.

A Jean-Luc du Plessis penalty goal after the hooter salvaged the Stormers a 19-19 draw with the reigning champions in Cape Town on Sunday morning (NZT). 

Crusaders captain Sam Whitelock could only shake his head, knowing the penalty Nic Berry blew for a high shot by replacement prop Oli Jager was touch and go. 

There was no doubt also lingering frustration from the contentious TMO call in the 75th minute, when South African Marius Jonker rubbed out what appeared to be a superb game-clinching try by wing Sevu Reece.

Cane has been named in the reserves for the Chiefs super rugby match against the Blues in Auckland on Saturday night as both sides battle to keep their playoff hopes alive.

The 27-year-old Cane suffered a fracture in a vertebrae on the right side of the neck playing against the Springboks in Pretoria in October.

He wore a brace for three months after surgery and got the all clear to resume contact training early last month.

Emergency surgery found there was no nerve damage and a gradual rehabilitation culminated in a return to contact work last month.