The Chiefs, in demolishing Moana Pasifika 85-7 in Hamilton, returned to the top of the table with a game in Dunedin against the Highlanders to play. Moana Pasifika still hold sixth place but will need a bonus point win against the Hurricanes in Wellington to keep the Blues at bay, while the Waratahs' golden point injury time win over the Force gave them a shot if they can beat the Blues in Auckland on Saturday.
It was also a record-breaking weekend with Crusaders wing Sevu Reece scoring his 66th try to become the highest try scorer in Super Rugby while the Chiefs win was a record margin in their Super Rugby campaigns.
Statistics after the weekend:
Most points: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) 160, Ben Donaldson (Force) 96, Tom Lynagh (Reds) 94.
Most tries: Carlo Tizzano (Force) 13, Leroy Carter (Chiefs), Corey Toole (Brumbies) 9.
Most carries: Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (Moana Pasifika) 192, Langi Gleeson (Waratahs)) 163, Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders) 161.
Most clean breaks: Toole 21, Harry Potter (Force) 20, Ponipate Loganimisi (Drua) 20.
Most defenders beaten: Tavatavanawai 64, McKenzie 49, Potter 47.
Most lineouts won: Darcy Swain (Force) 79, Josh Canham (Reds) 66, Nick Frost (Brumbies) 61.
Most metres gained: Tom Wright (Brumbies) 1018, Mac Grealy (Force) 878, Potter 780.
Most offloads: Sevu Reece (Crusaders) 20, Potter 15, Hoskins Sotutu (Blues) 14.
Most tackles won: Tizzano 198, Tom Robertson (Force) 197, Fabian Holland (Highlanders) 192.
Crusaders 15 Highlanders 12
This game did not do credit to the Highlanders' place at the base of the points table. They were not much more than a goalpost width of forcing the game to golden point when replacement five-eighths Cam Millar attempted a last-minute penalty goal from 40m out. But that summed up the Highlanders' season. Yet, their ability to take the game to the Crusaders, as they came back from 5-10 down at halftime to claim the lead with one of the most superbly executed set-piece tries in the competition, will have the Crusaders treading with caution through their next few weeks. First five-eighths Taine Robinson scored the try but the build-up work from the lineout was handled by loose forwards Sean Withy and Viveni Lasaqa. Halfback Folau Fakatava broke through when using the slightest of dummies before feeding a flying Robinson over. Earlier wing Jonah Lowe pulled back the early Crusaders' advantage when building on a thrust made by second five-eighths Timoci Tavatavanawai to score just before halftime.
The Crusaders did achieve the better start of the sides and, in the process, in the 15th minute, saw wing Sevu Reece finally claim the Super Rugby try-scoring record for himself with his 66th try, although the TMO took some convincing before it was awarded. While his achievement was welcomed, there was far greater delight when prop Tamaiti Williams ploughed his way through defenders with eight minutes left to secure what became the match-winning try. The southern men threw everything at the Crusaders, but the red and black line held, and the book of contests between the two sides had another chapter added to it.
Crusaders 15 (Sevu Reece, Tamaiti Williams tries; Rivez Reihana con, pen) Highlanders 12 (Jonah Lowe, Taine Robinson tries; Robinson con). HT: 10-5
Reds 27 Hurricanes 31
From the start, the Hurricanes moved the ball with effect. Wing Fatafehi Fineanganofo's back-hand pass to centre Billy Proctor on the sideline saw the ball moved back where fullback Callum Harkin slid a grubber kick towards the Reds' line for first five-eighths Ruben Love to follow through and claim the ball to score. The Reds responded immediately as halfback Tate McDermott threw a giant goalline dummy to score around a ruck. Twenty-eight minutes in, a stunning Proctor break opened the defence and his pass put Fineanganogo over for a try. Four minutes before the break, under advantage, halfback Cam Roigard kicked ahead from a ruck and followed through to take the uncontrolled ball to score. Two minutes later, Proctor scored after taking the ball from a midfield ruck following a lineout.
The Reds started the second half with a first-minute try, fullback Jock Campbell getting space on the outside, and when confronted by defenders, McDermott was inside to take his pass to score. Blindside flanker Joe Brial's powerful run for a try pulled the Reds one point in front in the 55th minute. But the Hurricanes were stirred, and in the 66th minute, Fineanganofo scored after powerful runs by second five-eighths Peter Umaga-Jensen and Proctor stretched the Reds' defence and gave the big wing his chance.
Reds 27 (Tate McDermott 2, Joe Brial tries; Tom Lyagh 3 con, 2 pen) Hurricanes 31 (Ruben Love, Fatafehi Fineanganofo 2, Cam Roigard, Billy Proctor, tries; Love 3 con). HT: 13-26
Chiefs 85 Moana Pasifika 7
Finding the easiest way to deny Moana Pasifika the ball, the Chiefs maximised their 69 percent possession to inflict a shock record loss at Hamilton on Saturday. Thirteen tries to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Chiefs' assault to quell the anticipated confidence Moana Pasifika were expected to show after their win a week earlier over the Blues. The Chiefs extended their record winning margin from 58 points in their 68-12 win over Moana Pasifika last season, while first five-eighths Damian McKenzie equalled the Chiefs record by landing nine conversions for the second time against the same opposition. Stephen Donald also kicked nine against the Lions in 2010. That dominance reduced the visitors to passenger status. The Chiefs gained 751 metres to 104, made 160 carries to 47, beat 38 defenders to five, won 95 rucks to 34 and conceded only four penalties, while Moana Pasifika gave up 16.
Having come back so impressively in the first game between the two in the competition, the Chiefs gave them no chance to mount a similar effort. Try hat-tricks to wing Leroy Carter and halfback Cortez Ratima reflected the confidence that drove the Chiefs. First five-eighths, Damian McKenzie, relished the running opportunities. At the same time, locks Tupou Vaa'i and Naitoa Ah Kuoi and hooker Samison Taukei'aho knitted the tight five to give no respite to Moana Pasifika. There were few opportunities for flanker and captain Ardie Savea to lift his side, and two first-half yellow cards did not help their cause. While they retained sixth place, they will have to pick themselves up and beat the Hurricanes in Wellington to deny either the Waratahs or the Blues the final playoff place.
Chiefs 85 (Shaun Stevenson, Tupou Vaa'i, Cortez Ratima 3, Quinn Tupaea, Damian McKenzie, Leroy Carter 3, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Daniel Rona tries; Penalty try; McKenzie 9 con) Moana Pasifika 7 (Ardie Savea try; Patrick Pellegrini con). HT: 31-0
Force 17 Waratahs 22
A fourth-minute 50-metre intercept picked off by Waratahs wing Triston Reilly gave the Waratahs a key start in Perth, but the Force struck back with their highest try scorer of the season, Carlo Tizzano forcing his way over in the corner in the 1oth minute. In the 19th minute, a cross-kick from first five-eighths Tane Edmed found wing Darby Lancaster. He raced ahead, and from the tackle breakdown, halfback Jake Gordon ran through a gap and found Lancaster waiting on the flank to run in a try. Force three-quarters Dylan Pietsch and Bayley Kuenzle combined in a run down the left flank in the 33rd minute. Kuenzle threw a long pass infield where fullback Mac Grealy was unmarked, and he ran in another to pull the home team within four points. Two minutes from halftime, second five-eighths Hamish Stewart burst through two attempted tackles to give the Force a 17-14 lead at the break.
Rain fell during a second half that was scoreless until the 75th minute when replacement back Jack Bowen landed a penalty goal to level the scores. Replacement Kurtley Beale had a last-minute 52m penalty goal attempt to snatch a win, but it was just wide, and the game went to golden point. Time was up when replacement Jamie Adamson fashioned a midfield break that took play to the Force 22m area. The ball was recycled after the hooter, and Lancaster launched himself at the corner to secure the winning touchdown.
Force 17 (Carlo Tizzano, Mac Grealy, Hamish Stewart tries; Ben Donaldson con) Waratahs 22 (Triston Reilly, Darby Lancaster 2 tries; Tane Edmed 2 con; Jack Bowen pen). HT: 17-14. FT: 17-17