Waratahs

The 35m strike after the final hooter ensured the Dunedin-based franchise finished their pre-season with a win, having previously lost to the Crusaders and been bundled out in the Brisbane Tens quarterfinals. 

Smith's late strike also ensured the Highlanders didn't throw away a game they had led 40-18 early in the second half, only for the Waratahs to come steaming back to lead 47-40 inside the final 10 minutes.

But midfielder Rob Thompson crashed over under the sticks with a few minutes left on the clock, before Smith snatched the game with his right-boot. 

RNZI reports the Blues are the only New Zealand side not to have qualified for next week's playoffs but they have finished the season on a high with wins over the top two Australian sides, the Waratahs and the ACT Brumbies.

In a see-sawing battle at Eden Park the Blues outscored the Waratahs five tries to four.

Eves comes into the starting team for Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, who broke his arm during last week's win over the Blues, while Halaholo earns a promotion from the reserves after Vince Aso was ruled out with a calf strain.

Prop Ben May and midfielder Ngani Laumape, who has recovered from a groin strain, come into the reserves, while openside Callum Gibbins returns to the squad after skipping the Blues match due to concussion.

Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd said it was a great opportunity for the players who had been called up to the starting side.

And Polota-Nau has revealed the premature retirement of Benn Robinson makes him prepare even more thoroughly now he has adopted the mindset that every game could be his last.

The Brumbies may have ended the New South Wales Waratahs' finals hopes with a hoodoo-busting and bruising 26-20 Super Rugby triumph in Sydney.

An historic tryscoring hat-trick from winger Joe Tomane helped the Brumbies skip 11 points clear of their arch rivals in the Australian conference, after securing their first win at Allianz Stadium in 14 years.

The Rebels humbled the Waratahs 21-17 at Allianz Stadium last night to record their first-ever win in Sydney and join the Brumbies as surprise equal conference leaders.

"It's a significant result for the club and the Rebels organisation," jubilant coach Tony McGahan said.

A dominant Brumbies scrum shoved the Waratahs pack over the line for a penalty try in the 68th minute to set up the win before replacement back Nigel Ah Wong added a last-minute try to blow out the scoreline at Canberra Stadium.