Two teams, defending champions EP Kings and the Boland Cavaliers, are now firmly in control in the provincial First Division after convincing victories on Friday.
The history books show that Australia's victory in the Tri-Nations series should count in favour of South Africa and New Zealand, according to former Springbok flyhalf Naas Botha.
Lions coach John Mitchell was understandably pleased after a few experiments paid off as his side retained their place at the top of the Currie Cup standings on Saturday.
Taranaki outplayed Hawke's Bay in an entertaining game in New Plymouth which saw the amber and blacks secure the Ranfurly Shield in the last game of league action this season.
Wallabies sponsor Qantas Airways was forced to apologise publicly on Sunday for posting a picture on its Twitter feed of two fans in black face paint and "afro" wigs at the Tri-Nations decider.
Martin Johnson believes England's victory over Ireland has left his squad in the right place to launch their Rugby World Cup campaign.
Jonny Wilkinson will board the plane for his fourth Rugby World Cup on Monday more excited and enthusiastic than he has ever been before.
Paul O'Connell is convinced Ireland have the capacity to halt their alarming decline and make an impression at the World Cup.
England Under-18 scored seven tries in beating Australia Schools 46-1`9 at St Ignatius, Riverview in Sydney on Saturday.
France's Top 14 got under way over the weekend with six matches on Friday and the seventh on Saturday. All the results, bar one, went the way of the home sides. Agen were the only side to win away from home. Not even Toulouse could win across in the Basque country.
The All Blacks were shown the importance of a strong start and switched-on mental approach by the Wallabies in the Tri-Nations decider just weeks before the World Cup, according to captain Richie McCaw.
The scrum contests in this year's Currie Cup are a mess, Sharks coach John Plumtree said on Saturday after his team's 28-19 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.
Ireland are heading to the World Cup on the back of four defeats in as many warm-up matches but Paul O'Connell insists now is not the time to abandon all hope of the team playing well in New Zealand.
The All Blacks have injury concerns over loose forwards Kieran Read and Adam Thomson ahead of next month's World Cup, after their defeat to Australia in the Tri-Nations decider.
France coach Marc Lievremont has talked up his team's chances of winning the World Cup, insisting that their lengthy and intense preparations have given them real hope of lifting the Webb Ellis Trophy.
