Super 12 round-up

The Hurricanes have not let negative reaction from upset supporters affect their preparation in Pretoria, but coach Graham Mourie said his players were still painfully aware they let themselves down in last weekend's 60-7 loss to the Blues.

Mourie said yesterday that he and the players had worked hard to create the atmosphere for a vast improvement against the Bulls tomorrow.

But it still had to be put into action on the park, he said.

"We've trained well, but we felt we trained pretty well before the Blues game, so you have to be careful not to take too much out of that.

"You never know whether you've cured these things until you get under pressure."

Another loss to the perennial cellar-dwellers tomorrow would damage the chances of the former All Black captain's retaining his job for much longer. But he said his own confidence remained good.

About 80 messages, most of them abusive, were posted on the Hurricanes' website following the loss to the Blues, and especially targeting Mourie.

A Hurricanes spokesman said no one had returned season tickets, nor had they received letters.

Meanwhile, injured fullback Christian Cullen could still make the starting XV.

Mourie named Daryl Lilley at fullback, but has not ruled out Cullen's starting.

Cullen tweaked a hamstring against the Blues.

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Justin Swart, who returns to Dunedin with the Sharks tonight, would have earned folk-hero status in the city had Otago lifted the Ranfurly Shield two years ago.

The 29-year-old was Otago's star in their 29-26 loss to Canterbury at Jade Stadium. "Playing for Otago did a lot for my game," Swart said.

The Highlanders, who picked up a bonus point in their narrow loss to the Crusaders last Saturday night, will start favourites. The Sharks were on the wrong end of a surprise loss to the Stormers in Durban.

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Flying Waratahs winger Scott Staniforth has a record to uphold when he lines up against the Stormers in Cape Town tomorrow.

Staniforth bagged three tries in the Waratahs' opening win against the Chiefs last weekend, continuing his run of sparkling form from the Wallaby tour of Europe.

There he scored five tries from two starts, making the most of his late call-up to the tour following the axing of Andrew Walker.

Joe Roff's departure to play in France has created a wing vacancy which Staniforth hopes to fill.

"It's kind of opened up an opportunity, but there's plenty of competition.

"Ben Tune's back in form and you've got Wendell Sailor and Matty Rogers. There's a lot of good competition for the position, but it's definitely something I hope to achieve."

The Waratahs have made only one change to the side who beat the Chiefs 42-25. Patricio Noriega starts at tighthead prop ahead of the injured Rod Moore.

Stormers coach Gert Smal was forced to make a number of changes to the starting side which came back from a 10-point halftime deficit to upset the Sharks 25-18.

First five-eighth Werner Greeff has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, and Marius Goosen moves up from fullback.

Springbok veteran Percy Montgomery has moved from right wing to fullback.

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Defending champions the Brumbies host the Cats in Canberra tonight, and a home win is the most likely outcome. The Cats do not travel well, and had to work hard for a win over the Bulls in the opening round.

Brumbies second five-eighth Pat Howard has recovered from a thigh injury to take his place in the starting lineup.

The Brumbies backline should be kept on its toes by the Cats' new centre sensation Gcobani Bobo, who scored three tries in their 44-31 win over the Bulls.

- AGENCIES