Match Highlights - Chiefs stun Highlanders, Sunwolves win big
The Chiefs beat the Highlanders and closed the gap to the Hurricanes in Super Rugby's highly competitive New Zealand Conference.
All three sides are set for the play-offs, but they trail the Crusaders at the top of the group and jostled for position on Saturday.
The Chiefs secured a standout result as they won 45-22 on the road at the Highlanders for their third win in four away matches after a blistering first half.
Six tries before the break - including two from Toni Pulu - incredibly had the visitors up 42-0 at the break as they put the result beyond doubt.
But the hosts were able to deny the Chiefs a bonus point. Teihorangi Walden scored a brace soon after the restart, before another two tries followed.
The Chiefs will now have the Hurricanes in their sights ahead of their meeting, with the second-placed side in the conference losing 24-12 to Brumbies, who ran in three second-half tries to overturn a 12-5 deficit half-time deficit.
There was a surprise thriller between two of the league's strugglers, meanwhile, as the Sunwolves defeated the Bulls 42-37 in Singapore.
The two number 10s were the stars of the show as the Sunwolves' Hayden Parker scored a try and kicked six conversions, while Handre Pollard crossed once and put away four conversions and three penalties.
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So Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
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