When their plans fail, they fail miserably, but when those plans work as it did in last Friday's 44-20 victory over the Griquas, the Blue Bulls will remain one of the top contenders in the Currie Cup competition.
Jerry Flannery's inclusion in Ireland's World Cup squad on Monday will end a battle with injury that left him "mentally broken".
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson will reveal his World Cup squad on Monday after securing a 100 per cent record from two warm-up matches.
Hawke's Bay's eased to a 44-14 win over Counties-Manukau in the NPC at McLean Park in Napier on Sunday.
Declan Kidney has defended the fixture list that threatens to send Ireland into the World Cup full of apprehension.
Leigh Halfpenny offers a heartening good news story for Wales ahead of their World Cup campaign in New Zealand.
Scotland wing Nikki Walker has been ruled out of the World Cup after suffering a knee injury in the 23-12 EMC Test win over Italy on Saturday.
New Zealand coach Graham Henry said the right decision had been made when a try by his team was disallowed after a TMO review during Saturday's 5-18 Tri-Nations defeat against South Africa - even though it was technically outside the rules.
Sylvain Marconnet and Thomas Domingo have been left out of France's 30-man squad for the World Cup in New Zealand.
James O'Connor has apologised for missing Australia World Cup squad announcement and said he would accept any punishment handed down.
SA Schools won in Port Elizabeth, Grey College won in a points' extravaganza in Stellenbosch and there were FNB Classic Clashes in East London and Oudtshoorn as well as Stellenbosch. In Newlands there was a massive turnaround when SACS played Bishops.
The First Division, South Africa's second tier domestic provincial competition, is a two horse race at the moment, with the EP Kings and Boland Cavaliers leading the pack at the halfway stage.
Discarded utility back Matt Giteau has been named in a powerful Australian Barbarians combination, boasting a combined 407 Test caps, for their encounter with the World Cup-bound Canadian side at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast on Friday.
The outstanding efforts of Queensland Reds scrumhalf Will Genia during the 2011 Super Rugby season has resulted in the Wallaby playmaker winning his second consecutive Pilecki Medal at the Reds Gala.
The Lions' gameplan had been good but their execution not good enough and in the end Western Province had deserved to win the match.
