Super Rugby

RNZI reports the 26 year old from Auckland is currently recovering from a broken arm as he pushes for a place in the New Zealand sevens side for the Rio Olympics.

Pulu has played two Tests for the All Blacks and over 50 games for the Chiefs and Counties Manukau.

Liam Gill, Nick Frisby and star man Samu Kerevi all scored tries in the first half, as the competition's 17th-ranked team dominated the outfit who came into the round rated second best.

Cruden, who missed most of last season due to a serious knee injury, had a hand in two of his side's five tries and scored another as the table-topping Chiefs overcame a tougher than expected performance from the lowly Blues.

Prop Mitchell Graham, wing Shaun Stevenson, centre Seta Tamanivalu and lock Brodie Retallick all scored tries for the Chiefs, with fullback Damian McKenzie slotted two conversions.

The Force led 19-13 until the 78th minute when the Crusaders scored a late try through Jordan Taufua.

The visitors still trailed by a point but Richie Mo'unga slotted the conversion with ease to give his side their sixth win of the season.

RNZI reports Pocock grasped the neck of Chiefs number eight Michael Leitch in a maul six minutes from the end of the game, leaving the Japan skipper stricken on the ground, but did not receive any sanction from Australian referee Angus Gardner.

RNZI reports the home side welcome back the return of All Black lock Brodie Retallick while Dominic Bird will make his first start in the Chiefs' jersey since joining the franchise from the Crusaders during the off-season.

All Black halfback Tawera Kerr-Barlow will also return from injury, starting on the bench, with Brad Webber retaining the number nine jersey.

The Crusaders scored six tries to the Lions four to move to 18 points, four behind the Highlanders, who took top spot in the New Zealand conference with an error ridden 32-20 win over the Western Force in Dunedin last night.

Centre Ryan Crotty scored a hat-trick as the visiting Crusaders ran in six tries to the Lions four to beat the in-form home side and make it two wins from two games on their trip to South Africa.

Five games into their debut season, players are being rested as the travel and playing demands become a reality.

Captain Agustin Creevy heads a list of 10 players left behind in Buenos Aries to recover while their teammates play the Blues this round in Albany then the Hurricanes in Wellington.

The streak stretched back to July 2015, making Monday's round four victory their first this season.

The home side was strengthened by the return from injury of Isaac Luke and Manu Vatuvei, who both scored tries, and the promotion from reserve grade of popular centre Konrad Hurrell.

In Durban, South Africa, the Crusaders recovered from two intercept tries to Sharks wing Lwazi Mvovo to win 19-14 thanks to a try in the last 10 minutes to All Blacks No. 8 Kieran Read.

The Crusaders had all the territory and possession at Kings Park, but two backline mistakes allowed Mvovo to speed away for a 14-7 lead for the home team.