The Sharks and Blues top the table as the only unbeaten teams, while the Chiefs and Stormers are yet to win - in fact the Stormers have yet to score a try. The luckless Chiefs have also lost two more key players with inspirational captain Jono Gibbs out with a torn calf muscle and the speedy Soseni Anesi hospitalised with a neck injury.

Chiefs 32 Hurricanes 39
The round opened in Hamilton with two New Zealand teams looking to record their first wins of the season. In a game that featured some brilliant attacking and blown chances, the Hurricanes came away with the win. After an early try to halfback Alby Matthewson put the Hurricanes in the lead, the Chiefs twice dropped the ball with the line open and had another try ruled out after the last pass floated forward.

The Chiefs finally did answer through halfback Brendon Leonard. After Hurricanes’ Serge Lilo and Chiefs’ Liam Messam traded tries, the Chiefs looked to be going into the half-time break up 15-14; however, an ill-directed pass from stand-in captain Stephen Bates was scooped up by Hurricanes’ winger Ma’a Nonu who ran 40 metres to score, giving his side a 19-15 half time advantage.

The second-half scoring began with a long-range penalty goal by the Chiefs’ Stephen Donald before Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga scored the first bonus-point try of the season. At the 54-minute mark the Hurricanes looked to have wrapped the game up when Hosea Gear made a clean break and set up Umaga for what should have been his second try of the match. Instead, Umaga dropped the ball while attempting to ground it.

Chiefs’ winger Roy Kininilau struck back almost immediately with a try in the corner, finishing off a well worked back line move. After a Jimmy Gopperth penalty goal stretched the Hurricanes’ lead to four points, the Chiefs scored again, this time hooker Tom Willis driving over in a rolling maul. Another Gopperth penalty leveled the scores before Hurricanes lock Paul Tito’s try sealed the match.

Stormers 3 Force 22
The Western Force racked up their second win in franchise history as they beat the woeful Stormers on a wet Cape Town evening. League convert Ryan Cross scored the only try of the match for the Force, while Cameron Shepherd kicked five penalty goals and a conversion for a 17-point haul on the night. Stormers' first five Naas Oliver scored the only points for his side with a second-half penalty as the rain intensified. Both teams were guilty of a lot of handling errors as the rain made the ball and footing extremely slippery.

Sharks 22 Waratahs 9
The Sharks racked up their second home win of the season to go to the top of the table as one of only two teams still unbeaten. In the oppressive heat and humidity of Durban, this match threatened to go tryless. The only one was scored by Sharks’ first five Butch James at the 77-minute mark as the Waratahs desperately counter-attacked. With his side down by only 9-15 late in the game, Waratahs winger Lote Tuqiri attempted a chip-and-chase which backfired, leading to the James try. It was the only time the Sharks really threatened the Waratahs line in the entire match. Waratahs goalkicker Peter Hewat landed only three goals from his seven attempts.

Crusaders 33 Reds 22
In what was easily the best game of the round, the Crusaders came back from last week’s loss to beat a valiant Reds team. The Crusaders’ defence improved greatly over last week’s effort, at one stage defending for 21 phases before forcing a turnover. The Reds' conservative game plan worked well against the Hurricanes last week, but against the Crusaders’ wall-like defence, the Reds were unable to adapt.

Crusaders’ rookie first five Stephen Brett opened the scoring with a try from a clean break close to the line. Another midfield break set up lock Ross Filipo for the second. The Reds finally got on the scoreboard five minutes before half-time with a try from a lineout drive by prop Greg Holmes. A penalty from Clinton Schifcofske just before the break made the score 14-8 at half time.

Two more Schicofske penalties early in the second half levelled the score before Reds winger Peter Hynds was gifted a try after an ill-directed kick by Rico Gear. The Crusaders fought back and scored midway through the half when No.8 Mose Tuiali’i crashed over after a quick tap-penalty. Schicofske restored the lead for the Reds with another penalty goal, but late tries to Scott Hamilton and Brent Ward secured the Crusaders’ first victory of the season.

Brumbies 15 Blues 17
The Blues stole victory with a conversion after the final hooter in rain-soaked Canberra. With thunder booming overhead as the game got under way, it was soon clear that conditions would not allow the open running rugby that fans have come to expect from both sides.

As Brumbies fullback Julian Huxley attempted his first shot at goal, the stadium was lit up by a lightning flash and the kick sailed wide. Returning All Black Luke McAlister set up the first half’s only try, scored by Blues first five Isa Nacewa, while Huxley kicked three penalties to give the Brumbies a 9-7 half-time lead. As conditions steadily worsened thoughout the second half, the teams traded penalty goals, then Huxley added another to put the Brumbies up by 15-10.

Brumbies’ first five Stephan Larkham had a chance to put the game beyond doubt with a drop goal attempt, but hit the crossbar. With less than a minute to play Brumbies captain Alister Campbell was sin-binned for a professional foul. From the ensuing penalty the Blues kicked to touch, won the lineout and drove over for prop Simone Taumoepeau to score a try which levelled the scores. After the hooter sounded and amid boos from the home fans, Nacewa kicked the sideline conversion to give the Blues an unlikely victory.

Bull 24 Cheetahs 20
The Bulls pack dominated up front and helped their side win their first game of the 2007 Super 14. Outscoring the Cheetahs by three tries to two, they were always in charge and the final scoreline is not really a fair reflection of the Bulls’ dominance. The home team scored the only try of the first half when prop Wessel Roux crashed over, and led 7-6 at the break. Bulls winger Bryan Habana scored early in the second half, then promply left the field injured. After CJ van der Linde galloped 50 metres to score for the Cheetahs, replacement Jaco Engels put the game beyond doubt with the Bulls’ third try. Eddie Freddricks scored a late consolation try for the Cheetahs.

Lions 11 Highlanders 6
The Lions scored the game’s only try in a decidedly un-”Super” encounter in Johannesburg when Lions winger Wylie Human charged down a clearing kick and sprinted 40 metres unopposed to score. The rest of the game’s points came from the goalkickers, Louis Strydom kicking two penalties for the Lions and Callum Bruce and Charlie Hore kicking one each for the Highlanders. Despite playing in a pack that was on the back foot for most of the game, Highlanders captain Josh Blackie once again shone in an otherwise uninspiring game.

Who do you think will win Super 14 this season? Let Sportingo have your views.