Magical McKenzie puts Chiefs on top
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Super Rugby Pacific round-up
A late surge saw the Chiefs edge the Crusaders 34-24 in a thrilling contest to extend their unbeaten run to nine games and equal a club record for their longest win streak ever.
The Crusaders drew first blood as prop Tamaiti Williams crashed over inside five minutes before the Chiefs settled into the contest and four Damian McKenzie penalties saw the league leaders enter half-time with a five-point lead.
Some magic from McKenzie then sparked the Chiefs' attack into life as he sliced through the defence before linking with Shaun Stevenson who gave the final pass for Brodie Retallick to score.
The champions hit back with a penalty try as Luke Jacobson was sent to the sin bin for collapsing the maul before Fergus Burke crossed to give them a two-point lead.
But scores from Stevenson and Tyrone Thompson in the final 10 minutes secured the win as the Chiefs became the first side to do the double over the Crusaders since 2016.
Chiefs captain Sam Cane said: “Credit to our boys up front, they've been putting in a lot of work this season and to be able to use our scrum as a weapon was a massive part of us getting the job done tonight.”
The Hurricanes laid down a massive marker in their bid for a home quarter-final as they edged past the Brumbies 32-27 in a frantic affair.
Lock Nick Frost crossed to give Brumbies an early lead but the hosts hit back minutes later through Devan Flanders before Ardie Savea gave them their first lead off the back of a questionable short lineout throw. Frost galloped in from long range to score his second after charging down a grubber before Jordie Barrett's penalty gave the Canes a threepoint half-time lead.
Scrum-half Cam Roigard's seventh try of the season paired with Aidan Morgan's score tightened the Canes' grip on the game and saw them lead by 12 heading into the final stages.
Toole's score minutes from the end was in vain as the Canes move up into third place, just one point behind the Brumbies.
The Waratahs snatched victory with substitute hooker Mahe Vailanu's 79th minute try to give them a vital 21-20 win over the Highlanders.
With a raft of Wallabies returning, the hosts started brightest as Izaia Perese showcased his immense power as he rode through the tackles of five defenders on his way to the line. Two Sam Gilbert penalties drew the Highlanders back into the game before Lalakai Foketi's try on the stroke of half-time bolstered the lead to eight.
Hugh Renton and Aaron Smith's tries regained the lead for the Landers before Vailanu burrowed over with his pick-and-go to complete the late comeback.
The Blues proved too much for the Fijian Drua as Leon MacDonald's side marked their first-ever game in Fiji with a 30-14 win. Humid conditions made the opening stages challenging for both sides, but the deadlock was broken with a Beauden Barrett penalty in the 25th minute before a Rieko Ioane try.
Despite Elia Canakaivata's double for the Drua, the Blues' power game proved too strong throughout with Cameron Suafoa and Dalton Papali'i's tries putting the stamp on the Blues' third straight win.
The Rebels outlasted Moana Pasifika in a fast-paced contest as the 43-33 win subjected the Pacific Islanders to their ninth straight loss of the season. The Aussies had the bonus-point wrapped up by half-time as in-form fly-half Carter Gordon once again strengthened his case for an international call-up with his try.
There were signs of life from the hosts in the second half as a late double from Fine Inisi provided a glimmer of hope before former Italy wing Monty Ioane shut the door with his try after the siren.
The Reds secured back-to-back wins for the first time this season with a 31-17 victory over Western Force. Fraser McReight's first-half double cancelled out former Wasps wing Zach Kibirige's early try for the Force and Matt Faessler's score gave the Reds a 14-point lead at the break.
Despite Michael Wells' try and Kibirige adding a second to his tally, George Blake's try on debut for the Reds rounded off the win as Brad Thorn's side moved into sixth place.
