Jason Woodward kicked a last-minute penalty after Queensland replacement Ed O'Donoghue was sent off for eye gouging to give the Melbourne Rebels a first Super Rugby win over the Reds with a 30-27 victory in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Stormers ran out of steam towards the end but did enough earlier on to run out convincing 24-8 victors over the Western Force in a Super Rugby clash at Newlands.

Of all the things it's easy to imagine the 1.98m, 120kg Patrick Tuipulotu being, scared is not one of them.

The Blues future is easy enough to predict with five games of this campaign left.

A couple of things will have become clearer for the All Blacks coaches after the Highlanders' defeat of the Hurricanes - not least the fact they will be feeling pretty good about Malakai Fekitoa.

The Blues probably lack a genuine team culture and departing Hurricanes coach Mark Hammett failed to understand the region he represented, according to Massey rugby researcher Jeremy Hapeta.

The Hurricanes may have to start relying on more than themselves if they want to make the Super Rugby playoffs.

Watch a replay of tonight's Super Rugby blog from the match between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders from Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

A stray $5 blows into your path as you saunter past the TAB on your way to watch coverage of tonight's Hurricanes and Highlanders clash.

The Coltmans will be at Westpac Stadium tonight, watching their son hopefully be part of a Highlanders victory over the Hurricanes, and complete what has been a dream week for the bush-bearded hooker.

From two seasons in the All Blacks' wider training squad to fighting for a place on the Hurricanes bench, it has been a tough run for Brad Shields.

Kieran Read's concussion-enforced absence from the Crusaders is likely to end next week. Coach Todd Blackadder said yesterday that Read was now back to 100 per cent health after his head injury suffered in the narrow victory over the Chiefs in Hamilton.

Tim Bateman has put family first in his decision to leave the Hurricanes at the end of the Super Rugby season.

The trickle is becoming a surge as Super 15 players desert their New Zealand franchises for the rewards of Japan and Europe.

The Hurricanes and Highlanders couldn't have experienced a more contrasting build-up ahead of their Friday night showdown in the capital.

The loss to the Chiefs not only extended the Blues' away losing record to 13 in a row, it also effectively ended their chances of making the playoffs.

The Hurricanes can look forward to home cooking for the rest of the Super Rugby season.

Back in the top three and once again the competition's leading try scorers - this should be a rather relaxing bye week for the Chiefs.

This wasn't a message to the rest of the competition from the Crusaders, this was a massacre.

Join us here for tonight's live blog of the Super Rugby clash between the Crusaders and the Reds from Suncorp Stadium.

They did their best to throw away the win but the Highlanders hung on to set up an intriguing battle with the Hurricanes on Friday night.

Big Ben Tameifuna has a big decision to make — stay with the Chiefs or sign with Toulouse and most likely commit to playing for Tonga at next year’s World Cup.

Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands are on the hunt for players and are putting pressure on those eligible for the Island nations.