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Australia back James O'Connor is an injury doubt for the Wallabies first match of the inaugural Rugby Championship also involving South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina after tearing a hamstring while playing for the Melbourne Rebels in a Super Rugby fixture at the weekend.
The 21-year-old was returning from more than a month on the sidelines but came off early in the second half of his team's 17-32 loss to the Reds - ruling him out of the Rebels' touring party for their last two matches of the season in South Africa.
The Stormers moved to within one game of making sure of the South African conference trophy when they beat the Lions 27-17 at Newlands.
The Bulls kept the pressure on with a 40-24 win over the Cheetahs at Loftus.
And: The Eastern Province Kings survived a close call in Wellington on Friday as they beat the Boland Cavaliers 25-20 in their Absa Currie Cup First Division opener.
It needed the late intervention of fullback SP Marais and the accurate boot of replacement flyhalf Wesley Dunlop to see off the King's bogey-team of late.
The SWD Eagles enjoyed almost total control as they hammered the Border Bulldogs 46-8 in their First Division opener at Outeniqua Park in George.
The Leopards beat the Pumas 32-23 in Potch and the Griffons beat the Valke 37-27 in Kempton.
This Friday evening, the Kings host SWD at the Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth and the Bulldogs entertain the Valke in East London.
