The NSW Waratahs’ demolition of an inept Auckland Blues caterpulted them from third to the top of the Super 14 ladder at the weekend joining the Wellington Hurricanes who produced another late win, this time over the Coastal Sharks.
The unbeaten Canterbury Crusaders, who had a bye, slipped to third but only one point behind and with a game in hand, while the ACT Brumbies clung on to a two-point win over the Waikato Chiefs to keep their place in the top four.
But the top order could change markedly over the next fortnight when the Hurricanes and Waratahs, who have both lost a match each, face the Crusaders on consecutive weekends.
The Waratahs, technically at the head the table because of a better points differential than the Hurricanes, gained a valuable bonus point with their 43-9, thrashing of the Blues.
The 34-point hammering — inspired by a man-of-the-match performance from fullback Peter Hewat — was NSW’s biggest win over the Blues in a decade of Super rugby.
Hewat, who moved from wing to fullback to make way for Lote Tuqiri returning from Commonwealth Games Sevens duty, contributed 28 points from a solo try, four conversions and five penalty goals in a flawless kicking display in driving rain.
His try in the 63rd minute came from his own kick and regather and secured the four-try bonus point for the Waratahs in their most impressive performance of the year and a welcome present for scrum-half Chris Whitaker who became the first player from the franchise to notch 100 Super games.
The Hurricanes, with a reputation of a team that can make much from little, created two try-scoring opportunities and cashed in on both to beat the Sharks 23-17.
The decisive moment came in the 61st minute when Lome Fa’atau performed wonders to snatch up a loose ball as he headed towards the touchline, and flick it behind his back to Chris Masoe who raced to the line.
Fa’atau scored himself 11 minutes later after Jason Eaton gathered up a fumbled ball and charged 20m before offloading to the flying winger on halfway to finish the break out.
The Brumbies also left their run late against the Chiefs with a converted try five minutes from time giving them a 28-26 victory.
It was an inspirational performance from Stirling Mortlock who scored the opening try, had a hand in two others and kicked 13 points including the decisive final conversion.
The Bulls and Cheetahs moved into five and sixth placed with wins over the Western Force and the Queensland Reds.
The Force, the only home team not to win on the weekend, went the closest they have been all year to registering their first points with a late three-try rush that took them within six points of the Bulls with four minutes remaining.
But they were undone by a last minute penalty from Derick Hougaard which lifted the Bulls to a 30-21 win.
The Central Cheetahs edged out the Reds 10-6 in the closest match of the weekend, while seventh placed Otago Highlanders pulled off an astonishing 141 tackles to shut out the Golden Cats 16-14.
The Cats dominated possession and territory and should have produced a runaway win, but they were beaten by a stunning Highlanders defence as well as their own handling errors. – Sapa-AFP