The Canterbury Crusaders rallied late for a 22-20 victory over South Africa’s Sharks on Saturday, keeping it within a point of the Wellington Hurricanes, while the Auckland Blues, Otago Highlanders and Bulls also won close games to improve their standing in rugby’s Super 14.
Canterbury’s victory at their secondary home in Timaru left them and Wellington as the only teams with perfect records after three rounds. Wellington scored four tries in its 29-16 victory over South Africa’s Cats on Friday and climbed alone atop the table with 15 points.
The Blues edged the Queensland Reds 21-20 for their first win of the season, leaving the Reds winless after three rounds.
The Highlanders beat South Africa’s Cheetahs 17-12 during a rainstorm in Bloemfontein to climb into sixth place with eight points, while the Bulls moved up one spot to fourth with a 26-17 victory over New South Wales Waratahs.
In other games on Friday, Waikato won 26-9 at Western Force while the Stormers and ACT Brumbies drew 15-15.
All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter kicked a 50m drop goal with eight minutes left to rally the Crusaders from an 18-17 deficit to their first lead.
Sharks fullback Percy Montgomery scored a try among his 15 points and Odwa Ndungane added a disputed try as the visitors established a 20-6 advantage three minutes into the second half.
Despite handling errors, the Crusaders closed the gap with second-half tries by winners Rico Gear and Caleb Ralph, and went ahead on Carter’s drop goal.
In Brisbane, Blues replacement fullback Isa Nacewa kicked two late penalty goals to lift Auckland.
The Reds overcame a one-point half-time deficit and Elton Flatley converted his fourth penalty with seven minutes remaining. However, a turnover from the restart and an immediate ruck infringement gave Nacewa his first of two penalties, and the Fijian fullback put Auckland back in front for good.
Flyhalf Derick Hougaard kicked 16 points on top of tries by JP Nel and Springbok speedster Bryan Habana to pace the Bulls past the Waratahs. Fullback Peter Hewat converted his own try and another by Rocky Elsom, and added a penalty to account for 12 of New South Wales’ points.
The Highlanders scored two tries in a match played in torrential rain and on a muddied pitch to beat the Cheetahs 17-12.
”We felt before the game the best place to expose the Cheetahs was out wide, but when it started to rain that became more difficult,” Highlanders captain Anton Oliver said.
”In the end, it was a game of territory. In the first half we had all the territory but couldn’t convert it into points; in the second half they had all the territory. We scored a good try and got out of jail.” — Sapa-AP