Sitiveni Sivivatu tears about like a kid fizzing on a sugar rush, yet Sean Maitland is determined not to be mesmerised by his trickery.

Australian rugby referee Paul Marks has paid the price for his controversial decision not to award the Sharks a penalty try in the final minutes of their Super 14 loss to NSW last Saturday night.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper believes No 7 is the toughest position under the new rules and he has continued to shuffle his flankers ahead of the crucial clash with the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday (NZ time).

Argentina would have to be able to field their best team to be included in a Four Nations tournament with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa from 2012.

Hurricanes coach Colin Cooper has responded to the side's first loss with five changes to his starting side in naming a full-strength side to play the Stormers on Sunday.

Hamilton's main drag can be a tricky zone for visiting rugby fans, although that is not where the Crusaders expect to cop grief tomorrow night.

Former All Black Sione Lauaki has been charged with assault following an incident in a Hamilton bar last Friday.

The Chiefs have tinkered with their tight five for their clash with the Crusaders on Friday night, bringing back lock Craig Clarke and hooker Aled de Malmanche.

All Blacks lock Isaac Ross returns to the starting lineup with the Crusaders resisting the temptation to get veteran Chris Jack involved in Friday night's clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton.

It looks like he's about to don a cape and leap tall buildings in a single bound.

The Crusaders are travelling well at the moment. We've won three out of four matches and have a pretty healthy squad.

In a Super 14 rugby competition where injuries play a key part, the Brumbies are enjoying a dream early run which augurs well for their finals hopes.

The man charged with putting the spark into England's attack admitted on Tuesday what everybody else has been saying for a long time - it is not working properly.

Wales captain Ryan Jones will miss Saturday's Six Nations match against Ireland after failing to shake off a calf injury, the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) said on Tuesday.

Neemia Tialata is urging referees to take control at scrum time, but not to deal with every mistake with a penalty as the Hurricanes look to shore up their set piece against the Stormers in Cape Town on Sunday.

The memory is as vivid today as it was 14 years ago, when ''King'' Carlos  Spencer was at the height of his powers as one of the world's leading  five-eighths. It is the memory of rugby stadiums throughout the southern  hemisphere packed to the rafters with frenzied crowds baying for the opposing  players' blood.

The Hurricanes will have to break down the best defence in the Super 14 if they are to get their South African safari back on track.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has added to the criticism of referee Paul Marks by saying the official's decisions cost his team victory in the Super 14 match against New South Wales last weekend.

The Reds are desperate to keep hold of former All Blacks flanker Daniel Braid and are even trying to bend the rules to do that.

It was probably the best manoeuvre by a Hurricane since they landed in South Africa.