The Brumbies have hit form at just the right time according to NSW rugby coach Ewen McKenzie but the timing couldn't be worse his team with the two Australia Super 14 sides set to clash in Sydney next Sunday.

While NSW (2nd, 33 points) surrendered the ladder lead to the Crusaders (1st, 35) after a 17-11 loss to the south islanders in Christchurch, the Brumbies (3rd, 28) moved above the Hurricanes into third, with a 53-20 thrashing of the Cheetahs (8th, 18) in Canberra.

"I think they (the Brumbies) are developing a lot of confidence and I think they have hit form at the right time," McKenzie said.

"I think they have been under the radar a little bit, because they probably haven't been scoring many bonus points, but if you look at their personnel and experience they are very well positioned in terms of this competition, they always have been.

"They have got an extra home game compared with us, they've been pretty much injury free, so all these circumstances have lined up for them to have a good season and that's what they have been doing."

With veteran halves George Gregan and Stephen Larkham in vintage form, the Brumbies scored seven tries, with Gregan crossing for his first Super five-pointer since the 2003 season.

"NSW are running hot at the moment, but I think we are going to get a lot of confidence out of that game," Larkham said.

NSW flanker Wycliff Palu will have a scan on Monday, to determine if nerve damage to a shoulder is as bad as a similar injury last season, which sidelined him for ten weeks.

McKenzie is awaiting news on whether five-eighth Mat Rogers will be available after missing two matches with rib damage.

The Brumbies reported no injury problems.

The Brumbies who are ahead of the resting Hurricanes on percentage, are six points clear of the Bulls (fifth, 22) following their 26-26 draw in Hamilton against the Chiefs (7th, 18).

Queensland (12th, 13) finished the first three-match Super tour of South Africa by an Australian side with a morale boosting 23-16 win over the Cats (13th, 6) in Johannesburg.

The Reds clinched just their second win of the season by scoring ten unanswered second half points, including a decisive try to flanker David Croft.

Queensland's other five-pointer was notched by winger Peter Hynes, who was sin-binned for the second successive week, after conceding a penalty try for tackling Cats fullback Conrad Jantjes without the ball near the Queensland line.

Reds coach Jeff Miller said it was "touch and go" whether fullback Chris Latham would make his comeback from rib damage against the Bulls in Brisbane next Saturday.

There was yet more anguish for the luckless and winless Western Force (14th, 2), which lost 25-22 to the Highlanders (6th, 22) in Dunedin, after leading 15-3 in the first half.

Lock Rudi Vedelago, who played his first game for the team on Saturday, was expected to be out for six weeks after suffering an ankle injury.

Force inside centre Scott Staniforth will front a SANZAR judiciary in Wellington on Monday on a dangerous tackle charge, after a second half shoulder charge which left Highlanders flanker Josh Blackie briefly unconscious.

In the other round nine game, the Blues (10th, 17) scored a 32-15 win over the Stormers (11th, 14) in Auckland.

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