Super Rugby weekend round-up: Waratahs, Crusaders and Rebels win at Reds, Chiefs and Blues; Brumbies beat Sunwolves
Last Updated: 03/06/18 3:36pm
Saturday saw another three Super Rugby fixtures take place, which all resulted in away victories, while Sunday saw the Brumbies beat the Sunwolves in Canberra.
Friday saw the Highlanders beat the Hurricanes in Dunedin, but on Saturday there was good news for the Waratahs, Crusaders and Rebels on the road...
Reds 41-52 Waratahs
The Waratahs prevailed in a wild, 15-try, 93-point shootout against their oldest rivals at Lang Park to move back to the top of the Australian conference heading into the international break.
Waratahs full-back Israel Folau touched down either side of the break and there were also tries for Taqele Naiyaravoro, Cam Clark, Curtis Rona and Michael Wells, as well as scrum-half Nick Phipps and his replacement Jake Gordon.
Izaia Perese opened the scoring for the Reds off a first-minute interception and tries from Scott Higginbotham, Taniela Tupou, Caleb Timu, Alex Mafi, Jordan Petaia and Sef Fa'agase would have given them a chance to win had they managed to convert more than three of them.
Two tries in the last 10 minutes typified the effort from the Reds and prevented the Waratahs from picking up a bonus point, leaving them a point clear of the Rebels at the top of the conference.
Chiefs 20-34 Crusaders
The reigning champion Crusaders will head into the June international break on a 10-match winning streak after out-muscling the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Winger George Bridge and forwards Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Matt Todd and Luke Romano crossed as the south islanders gave prop Wyatt Crockett a victory to celebrate on his unprecedented 200th Super Rugby appearance.
Flanker Luke Jacobson scored tries either side of half-time for the Chiefs, with winger Sean Wainui also crossing against his old side, but the hosts were no match for the ruthless Crusaders when it came to the crunch.
The victory also means the competition-leading Crusaders go into the international break with a nine-point cushion over the Hurricanes at the top of the New Zealand conference.
Blues 10-20 Rebels
Centre Billy Meakes grabbed a brace at Eden Park as the Rebels snapped a run of 32 straight defeats for Australian Super Rugby sides in New Zealand, going back to 2015.
Meakes struck either side of half-time and full-back Dane Haylett-Petty also crossed as the Rebels got ample reward for their direct running and stout defence with a third straight win.
Terrence Hepetema, who came into the centres for the injured Sonny Bill Williams, scored the only try for the Blues in the 35th minute but the home side were unable to register a point in the second half as they slumped to a 10th defeat of the season.
There was bad news for Australia ahead of their June series against Ireland with Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese and winger Jack Maddocks both limping off in the 70th minute, the former with what looked like a serious knee injury.
Sunday
Brumbies 41-31 Sunwolves
On Sunday, the Brumbies ended up comfortable bonus-point winners to keep alive their slim play-off hopes but the Sunwolves brought their trademark attacking game to keep things interesting in the Australian capital.
Flankers David Pocock and Lachlan McCaffrey scored the first two tries for the hosts before the outside backs took over with Tom Banks, Andy Muirhead and Henry Speight all touching down.
Pocock's replacement Tom Cusack added a sixth before Speight added his second and the margin of victory would have been greater had the Brumbies not missed four conversions.
Tries from centre Jason Emery and prop Hencus van Wyk had the Sunwolves in the contest at 19-17 down in the 42nd minute but any chance of victory was gone when flanker Ed Quirk and debutant winger Kai Ishii crossed in the last 10 minutes.
Pocock and props Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa, selected for the match despite a request from Wallabies coach Michael Cheika that they be rested, were all replaced before the hour mark.