THE SHARKS’ LEAD atop the Super Rugby table is down to just a point after they were handed a beating by the Highlanders and ACT Brumbies defeated Waikato Chiefs, the defending champions.
The Brumbies sliced the Sharks’ lead after mastering the back-to-back champions Waikato 41-23 in Canberra on Friday. Jake White’s Sharks, who are about to embark on a season-defining four match Australasian tour, were smashed 34-18 by the Highlanders in one of the shock results of the season in Durban.
The Highlanders combined strong, creative running and impressive field kicking to deadly effect, scoring four tries for a bonus-point triumph at Kings Park after building a 24-12 half-time lead. The Dunedin outfit achieved victory despite struggling at the scrums and line-outs, being repeatedly penalised, and having lock Joe Wheeler sin-binned on 50 minutes.
In Canberra, the Brumbies ran in five tries in an impressive bonus-point win over the Chiefs in a rematch of last year’s Super Rugby final. Joe Tomane’s first half try [below] was the pick of the bunch. A week after Chiefs teammate Brodie Retallick played on after having his jersey ripped off, Nick Croswell ploughed on regarless [and topless].
The Aussies dominated the Chiefs to lead 36-9 after 63 minutes with 18 straight points while Chiefs replacement James Lowe was given a yellow card for tripping. Dave Rennie’s men hit back with two late converted tries to reduce the final margin.
The Hurricanes displaced Chiefs at the top of the New Zealand conference after a 35-21 home win over the fading Queensland Reds.
A month after being written off as Super 15 pushovers, the Wellington outfit capped a stunning revival by going top of the New Zealand conference with victory over the Reds. Cory Jane scored a hat-trick of tries as the ‘Canes dotted down five times to claim a bonus point.
It was another unsuccessful mission for the Reds — supposedly refreshed after a bye last week — in what is rapidly becoming a disastrous season for the 2011 champions. They have now won just three of nine games while the Hurricanes, who won only one of their first five, have now bagged five from nine.
Feel the force
Season surprises Western Force held on to their fourth place overall with a gritty 15-9 win over the Northern Bulls to send the South African triple Super Rugby champions home without a win on their away tour.
The Waratahs continued to be thwarted at Eden Park where they lost 21-13 to the lower-ranked Auckland Blues to slip to sixth overall. Bernard Foley’s intercepted cross-field kick proved the turning point as Lolagi Visiniga sprinted clear and, with the help of Charles Piutau, set up a try for Francis Saili.
Source: Aotearoa SportsVideos/YouTube
In the weekend's remaining match the Central Cheetahs kept the Western Stormers on the bottom of the standings with a 35-22 win in a South African derby in Bloemfontein.
Super Rugby results
- Blues 21-13 Waratahs
- Brumbies 41-23 Chiefs
- Sharks 18-34 Highlanders
- Hurricanes 35-24 Reds
- Western Force 15-9 Bulls
- Cheetahs 35-22 Stormers
VIDEO: Greg Inglis ends 100-yard dash with a truly great try
‘How the heck did that happen?’ – when good rugby ideas go horribly wrong
