(Reuters) – Wellington Hurricanes extended their winning streak in the Super Rugby Pacific season with a sixth consecutive victory, while the Canterbury Crusaders secured their first win of the season to shift the defending champions off the bottom of the table. The Crusaders broke their losing streak with a 37-26 triumph over Waikato Chiefs in Christchurch, with Johnny McNicholl scoring two tries to bring relief to coach Rob Penney.
This victory marked the Crusaders’ first win in six matches following the departure of Scott Robertson to take over as All Blacks coach. Crusaders captain Tom Christie expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance, stating, “There’s a long way to go, but it was a step in the right direction.”
Meanwhile, the Hurricanes dominated the Otago Highlanders with a 47-12 victory, but it may have come at a cost as Cam Roigard sustained a serious leg injury, impacting one of the top players in the competition. Roigard was among seven different try-scorers for the Hurricanes, earning praise from centre Jordie Barrett.
Despite the win, Barrett acknowledged Roigard’s injury, noting, “He is an unbelievable player.” The Hurricanes currently lead the table after six rounds, with 27 points, ahead of the Auckland Blues and ACT Brumbies, both on 22 points.
The Brumbies secured a narrow 20-19 win over the Queensland Reds in Brisbane, with fullback Tom Wright scoring two tries and a late penalty from Noah Lolesio sealing the victory. Lolesio emphasized the team’s need to play at their own pace to outmaneuver a competitive Reds squad.
In another match, the Blues continued their winning streak by defeating Moana Pasifika 47-8 at Eden Park, with Mark Telea scoring a hat-trick of tries and Stephen Perofeta contributing 17 points to the team’s comprehensive win. Auckland back rower Akira Ioane highlighted the challenge of facing a tough opponent like Moana Pasifika.
Fijian Drua overcame adversity with a red card and adverse weather conditions to secure a 31-13 victory over the Western Force, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula leading the way with 16 points. Despite an early try from Tom Horton, the Drua managed to take control of the match and emerge victorious.
In another intense matchup, the Melbourne Rebels clinched a 27-21 win over the New South Wales Waratahs, with Filipo Daugunu’s last-minute try sealing their third win of the season amidst financial challenges. The team’s resilience was on display as they battled through a tough contest to secure the victory.
(Reporting by Michael Church and Nick Said, editing by Ed Osmond)
