WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Demonstrating their dominance in this season’s Super Rugby tournament, the Chiefs secured a commanding 35-19 victory over the Crusaders during the 13th round match on Saturday. Played at the home ground of the Crusaders in Christchurch, this victory propelled the Hamilton-based Chiefs to the top of the standings, distinguishing them as the leading team of the season.
In a weekend that saw only four matches, the outcomes significantly reshuffled the playoff landscape. The Chiefs’ triumph placed them two points clear at the summit of the table. Meanwhile, the ACT Brumbies delivered a decisive 33-14 win over the Western Force, allowing them to leapfrog the Crusaders and claim the second spot.
Elsewhere, the Auckland Blues secured a 34-5 win against the Fijian Drua in a rare night game in Fiji, climbing up to fifth place. This result left the Drua at the bottom, effectively eliminating them from playoff contention. In another encounter, the Queensland Reds maintained their stronghold on fourth place by overcoming their storied rivals, the New South Wales Waratahs, with a 28-21 win. This outcome left the Waratahs’ playoff hopes hanging by a thread from their eighth-place position.
The Chiefs began their clash against the Crusaders with vigor, moving the ball with speed and presenting a constant threat. Despite this, the Crusaders initially capitalized on turnovers and handling errors from the Chiefs to establish a 19-3 lead, scoring three tries through precision close to the line. However, the Chiefs responded just before halftime, as winger Emoni Narawa crossed to reduce the deficit to 19-10.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie produced an outstanding performance, scoring a try early in the second half. The momentum continued as winger Leroy Carter sprinted nearly the entire field to score, capturing the lead for the Chiefs for the first time in the game. Backrower Wallace Sititi returned from a serious injury to score the clinching try in the 73rd minute, sealing the victory. McKenzie’s contributions, including three penalties and three conversions, amounted to 20 personal points and solidified his candidacy for the All Blacks No. 10 jersey against France in July.
The Chiefs and Crusaders entered this match level on points, with the Chiefs ahead only on point differential, an outcome stemming from the Chiefs’ earlier defeat to the Hurricanes. Reflecting on their previous struggles, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan remarked, “We needed to stand up physically last week, and the Chiefs’ defense is something we pride ourselves on.”
In other news, Wallabies flyhalf Noah Lolesio caused concern when he was stretchered off during the Brumbies’ match against the Western Force with a suspected spinal injury. Lolesio, 25, was injured awkwardly during a breakdown cleanout and was immediately attended to by medical staff. He was reassuringly reported to have full movement and was taken to the hospital for precautionary scans. Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham later confirmed Lolesio was recovering well, stating, “He’s got full function and full feeling.” Further updates confirmed no serious injury, and Lolesio remains in good spirits under medical assessment.
On the same weekend, Wallabies fullback Joseph-Aukuso Sua’alii also suffered a significant concussion after a heavy collision in the Waratahs and Reds match on Friday. Initially groggy, Sua’alii later left with his parents. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar provided updates on his condition, noting ongoing assessments.
Tragically, preparations for the Fijian Drua’s crucial match against the Blues were interrupted by the sudden death of former Fiji sevens player Josaia Raisuqe in France. The 30-year-old, who played for the French club Castres, was involved in a traffic accident en route to training. Raisuqe was celebrated for contributing to Fiji’s silver medal at the Olympic rugby sevens last year.
The Drua offered their condolences through social media, mourning the loss of Raisuqe as more than a player, describing him as “a brother, a teammate, and a true son of Fijian rugby.” Comments were filled with tributes to his legacy and impact on Fijian rugby.
[The article has been updated for clarity and conciseness.]