Super Rugby: Highlights from this weekend’s AU and Aotearoa action

Super Rugby is now back on the go in both New Zealand and Australia with four matches taking place this weekend.

Super Rugby AU

Reds 32-26

The Reds overcame a tenacious Waratahs side to kick off Australia’s Super Rugby AU competition with a hard-fought 32-26 victory in Brisbane.

The result is a momentous one for the Reds, ending an 11-match losing run against the Tahs that stretches all the way back to 2013.

In a fast-paced and exciting game, momentum between the sides ebbed and flowed throughout, with the Reds dominating the early stages before the Waratahs came back strongly in the second half.

The Reds finished the stronger, however, and ultimately outscored the visitors four tries to two. Liam Wright, Filipo Daugunu, Tate McDermott and Harry Wilson scoring the Reds’ tries, while the Waratahs’ five-pointers were scored by Harry Johnson-Holmes and Jack Maddocks.

Brumbies 31-23 Rebels

The Brumbies found themselves on the receiving end of an impressive second-half fightback from the Rebels before recovering to secure a 31-23 victory in their Super Rugby AU opener in Canberra.

It was an impressive opening 40 minutes from Dan McKellar’s men, who were enjoying a fine year before the Super Rugby competition was suspended, and three tries via Andy Muirhead, Joe Powell and Folau Fainga’a saw them go into the interval 19-6 in front.

Matt Toomua had kicked two penalties for the visitors but they lacked ideas and the hosts appeared to have secured the victory at the start of the second period when Tom Wright went over for their third try.

However, the Rebels got back into the contest through quick-fire Jordan Uelese and Dane Haylett-Petty efforts. Another Toomua three-pointer reduced the deficit further before Will Miller’s late score secured the win for the Brumbies.

Super Rugby Aotearoa

Highlanders 20-40 Crusaders

The Crusaders stunned the Highlanders with two tries at the death to ultimately seal a dominant 40-20 win at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

One of the best matches the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition has delivered to date, the tone was set in the initial exchanges when Richie Mo’unga’s penalty and Will Jordan’s try saw the visitors open up an eight-point buffer.

They were met by an equally impressive Landers outfit, though, as tries from Shannon Frizell and Ngane Punivai put the home side in front before Mo’unga equalised with successive efforts off the tee.

Mitch Hunt would kick the Highlanders ahead at the end of the first half before Tom Christie continued the topsy-turvy nature of the contest by crossing the whitewash after the break.

Hunt reduced the arrears with yet another successful three-pointer but Sevu Reece’s score in the 60th minute and Christie’s second try three minutes from time secured a third win for Scott Robertson’s charges and saw them go top of the table. Jordan followed them by going over in the final minute to complete what appeared to be a comfortable victory in Dunedin, yet it was anything but.

Chiefs 18-25 Hurricanes

Despite playing with 14 men for the final 15 minutes, the Hurricanes were too good for the Chiefs, winning 25-18 in their Super Rugby Aotearoa clash in Hamilton on Sunday.

With both sides being winless ahead of this match, there was plenty at stake but the Hurricanes were deserved winners in the end as they outscored their hosts three tries to two despite the men from Wellington playing most of the second half with 14 men after Scott Scrafton received two yellow cards.

Kobus van Wyk (2) and Du’Plessis Kirifi scored tries for the Hurricanes and Jordie Barrett finished with a 10-point haul courtesy of two conversions and as many penalties, with his second three-pointer proving to be the highlight of the match as he slotted it from 58 metres out.Canes 

For the Chiefs, Lachlan Boshier crossed the whitewash and they were also awarded a penalty try while Damian McKenzie succeeded with two penalties.