Seven-try Crusaders put the scalp to the Chiefs
Super Rugby’s defending champions the Crusaders battled for 70 minutes to subdue the Chiefs in Christchurch and then put the sword to the visitors with three tries in the last 10 minutes.
The Saders, the winner of a record eight titles, won 45-23 after leading just 26-23 going into the last quarter.
The Crusaders scored seven tries, including a penalty try that led to a yellow card for the Chiefs. The card proved decisive and the Chiefs, down a man, couldn’t cope. The need to score tries forced the Chiefs to play recklessly and the Crusaders profited from two intercept tries post post the penalty try.
The Crusaders lost two players to the sin-bin in the first half in Richie Mo’unga and prop Michael Alaalatoa but still lead 19-17 at the break.
In the early Saturday game, the Brumbies edged the international flavoured Sunwolves 32-25. The Sunwolves fielding 13 players who are not Japanese, including three South Africans in their pack, led 19-15 at halftime.
The Brumbies scored five tries through replacement Lachlan McCaffrey, centres Kyle Godwin and Tevita Kuridrani, hooker Josh Mann-Rea and fullback Tom Banks. Flyhalf Christian Lealiifano added two conversions and a penalty.
The Sunwolves scored three tries through wing Hosea Saumaki (2) and centre Timothy Lafaele. Centre Ryoto Nakamura landed a conversion, while replacement Hayden Parker kicked a conversion and two penalties.
In Friday’s matches the Highlanders beat the Blues 41-34 and the Rebels hammered the Reds 45-19.
The Reds were reduced to 14 players after nine minutes and lost a further player to the sin-bin in the first half. Yellow cards proved influential in all the matches, with the Highlanders also scoring 14 points when up by a man.
The very NOT Japanese Sunwolves
15 Jason Emery, 14 Lomano Lava Lemeki, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Hosea Saumaki, 10 Robbie Robinson, 9 Yutaka Nagare (captain), 8 Willie Britz, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Kazuki Himeno, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Jiwon Koo, 2 Ho Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki
Substitutes: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 James Moore, 20 Edward Quirk, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Hayden Parker, 23 Sione Teaupa
