Main Super Rugby Headlines

1. SA's only options are to retract, merge or relegate
   Relegation or the merger of two teams appear the only options as the South African Rugby Union again met with their Super Rugby sides on Thursday about the problem of having six contenders for five places next year.
2. Force v Rebels Super Rugby Preview
   The Force and the Rebels will meet for the first time on a Sunday and this will also be the last Sunday Super Rugby match for 2012. The Rebels and the Force have
3. Cheetahs v Sharks Super Rugby Preview
   The last two matches between the Cheetahs and the Sharks were played in Bloemfontein and Durban and were both won by the Sharks.
4. Stormers v Waratahs Super Rugby Preview
   The Stormers have won three out of the last five Super Rugby matches between them and the Waratahs but they have not played since 2010.
5. Reds v Lions Super Rugby Preview
   The Reds have won the last two Super Rugby matches between the Reds and the Lions but weirdly the Reds have not beaten the Lions in Brisbane since 2005.
6. Crusaders v Blues Super Rugby Preview
   The Crusaders have won the last two Super Rugby matches between them and the Blues but the last victory was a tight one point win.
7. Highlanders v Bulls Super Rugby Preview
   The Bulls and the Highlanders have won two Super Rugby matches each in the last four matches between the teams. The Highlanders
8. Hurricanes v Brumbies Super Rugby Preview
   The Brumbies won the last Super Rugby match between these two teams but the Hurricanes won the four matches prior to the last one.
9. Sharks bring in Viljoen and Alberts for Cheetahs
   Sharks coach John Plumtree has tried to keep the same team that beat the Force in Durban last week for the Cheetahs this weekend but has had to make two changes.
10. Seymour one of six Force changes
    Western Force selectors have made six changes to the 22-man side that will go head-to-head with the Rebels, in Perth, on Sunday.
11. Crusaders make seven changes for Blues
    The Crusaders have made seven changes to the team that lost to the Rebels last weekend for this weeks' match against the Blues in Christchurch.
12. Lam shuffles Blues forwards for Crusaders clash
    Blues coach Pat Lam has moved his stand-in captain Luke Braid to No.8 for this week's match against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
13. Waratahs ring the changes for Stormers clash
    Waratahs coach Michael Foley has made two changes to the backline and two changes to the forwards for this week's clash against the Stormers in Cape Town. Bernard Foley comes
14. Smit replaces Ebersohn in Cheetahs line-up
    Riaan Smit's performance against the Stormers last weekend has prompted Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske to name him at fly half ahead of Sias Ebersohn against the Sharks.
15. Stormers make two changes for Waratahs
    Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has named two changes to the team that beat the Cheetahs last weekend for this week's Super Rugby clash against the touring Waratahs.
16. Lions confident they won't get dropped
    Golden Lions Rugby Union (GLRU) president Kevin de Klerk says he remains optimistic over the union's participation in the Super Rugby competition.
17. Mitchell keeps Lions unchanged for Reds
    Lions coach John Mitchell has kept the same team that lost to the Blues last weekend in Auckland for their match against Super Rugby champions the Reds in Brisbane.
18. Quade Cooper returns for Reds against Lions
    The Reds have named their team to play the Lions this weekend at Suncorp Stadium with Quade Cooper in the starting lineup for the first time this Super Rugby season.
19. Brumbies name Holmes as Lealiifano's replacement
    Brumbies coach Jake White has named Zack Holmes as Christian Lealiifano's replacement in the No 10 jersey for their clash against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
20. Elsom set to be dropped to the bench
    Waratahs coach Michael Foley looks set to rotate several of his forwards with Dave Dennis and Sitaleki Timani in line to return to the starting line up for this week's crucial match.