HIGHLIGHTS-Super Rugby week 17
A second-half blitz ensured the Hurricanes will have home advantage in the quarter-finals of the playoffs as Ben Lam and Dane Coles both scored twice for a fifth away win of the season for the Wellington team. Ngani Laumape also notched up a try at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday to gives the Canes an early lead but Aphiwe Dyantyi scored soon after to level matters and the game was evenly balanced at 10-10 at the break.
Then Lam and Coles led the way with a double each as the Hurricanes outmuscled their hosts. Dyantyi managed another consolation try for the Lions, who are now in danger of missing out on the playoffs after being runners-up the last three years.
READ MORE Hurricane win over Lions ensures playoff home advantage
Brumbies down Waratahs to win Australian conference Crusaders destroy Rebels to march into Super Rugby playoffs
Crusaders to retain name for 2020, logo to be changed Late Visagie try snatches draw for Bulls against Highlanders
Three potential debutants for injury hit Stormers Waratahs coach Gibson cagey on resting Wallabies
Folau launches legal action against Rugby Australia Jantjies restored to Lions squad for key clash
Australia chief says Folau not welcome in NRL Wallabies veteran Ashley-Cooper not the retiring type
Injury curse continues to beset Whiteley Road warriors Jaguares head home with title in sight
NEW SOUTH WALES WARATAHS 24 ACT BRUMBIES 35 The Brumbies hit the Waratahs with a four-try blitz in 18 first-half minutes on their way to an emphatic victory in Sydney on Saturday that secured them the Australian conference title.
The twice Super Rugby champions are now assured of a home quarter-final in two weeks' time, while the Waratahs could still take a mathematical chance of making the playoffs into their final regular-season clash against the Otago Highlanders. Lock Rory Arnold, winger Andy Muirhead, centre Irae Simone and hooker Folau Fainga'a all crossed in quick succession from the 15th minute and flyhalf Christian Lealiifano converted all four tries to give the visitors a 28-3 halftime lead.
Scrumhalf Nick Phipps, evergreen centre Adam Ashley-Cooper and winger Curtis Rona crossed in the second half for the Waratahs but the hosts had too steep a hill to climb to get back into the contest after leaking so many points before the break. CRUSADERS 66 REBELS 0
Wingers Braydon Ennor and Seevu Reece both scored hat-tricks in Christchurch on Saturday as the defending champions assured themselves of the top seeding in the playoffs by handing the Rebels their heaviest ever defeat. Fullback David Havili scored two tries while Bryn Hall and Ryan Crotty, in his 150th game, also crossed for the Crusaders, who moved to 58 points and cannot be caught on the table even though they have a bye for next week's final round of matches.
The Wellington Hurricanes, who have the second-best points tally but are fourth in the standings due to the conference system, can only finish with 54 points. They play the Lions later on Saturday. The Crusaders, who will host the eighth-placed team in the quarter-finals in two weeks and enjoy home advantage throughout the playoffs, will remain heavy title favourites on the back of this performance.
REDS 29 BLUES 28 Number eight Scott Higginbotham scored two tries, one with less than four minutes remaining, as the Reds ended the Blues playoff hopes with victory in Brisbane on Friday.
Bryce Hegarty, who scored an early second-half try, kicked the conversion from near the sideline to give the Reds their 29-28 lead with three minutes remaining. Taniela Tupou also added a try for the Brisbane-based side. Augustine Pulu scored two tries and had a third ruled out by the television official, while Blake Gibson and Taniela Tele'a also crossed for the Blues, who fell out of contention with the loss.
The Blues end their season against the Wellington Hurricanes next Saturday, while the Reds go to Canberra to face the ACT Brumbies. HIGHLANDERS 24 BULLS 24
Jaco Visagie scored a late try to snatch a draw for the Bulls against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday that effectively ended the home side's playoff hopes. Visagie's 75th-minute try, after the Bulls finally cracked the Highlanders' defensive line in a match that was played at a high tempo, moved his side to 36 points on the table, while the Highlanders went to 31.
Divan Rossouw and lock Jason Jenkins also scored tries for the Bulls, who are fifth, while the Highlanders are 10th and without doubt out of contention for the top-eight positions for the playoffs. Five other teams are between 30 and 35 points and still to play this weekend. Waisake Naholo and Josh McKay both scored two tries each for the Highlanders, who were guilty of throwing away possession throughout the game. (Reporting by Greg Stutchbury, Nick Mulvenney and Mark Gleeson; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Clare Fallon)
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