At a glance
The same could be said for the Fijian Drua, who, having stunned the Crusaders in Lautoka last weekend, got thumped by the Chiefs in Hamilton. .
Stung by their loss to the Reds in Brisbane, the Chiefs showed why they remain one of the hottest tickets in the competition; their desire to attack from set-pieces was clear, but their lack of concentration, when the Drua scored an 81st minute try, which robbed the Chiefs of a precious bonus point, was disappointing.
All Blacks midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown was carted off with a concussion. Never a pleasant sight.
4 Hold on tight, the Blues are up to their old tricks
If Blues coach Vern Cotter was on the farm in the Bay of Plenty he could erase his frustrations by grubbing thistles or slashing at gorse.
No doubt grateful that the Blues eked out an unconvincing win over the Waratahs in Sydney, Cotter will have much to ponder in Auckland in the days ahead. There’s unlikely to be too many noxious weeds to vent his frustrations upon. Which could be bad news for the nearest rubbish bin.
Super Rugby Pacific Rd 4
At Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch: Hurricanes 14 (Tyrel Lomax, Justin Sangster tries; Brett Cameron 2 con) Crusaders 10 (Cullen Grace try 53min; Riley Hohepa con, pen) HT: 7-0
At AAMI Stadium, Melbourne: Reds 53 (Seru Uru 2, Josh Flook 2, Matt Faessler, Liam Wright, Peni Ravai, Josh Nasser tries; Harry McLaughlin-Phillips 4 con, Tom Lynagh con; Lynagh pen) Rebels 26 (Andrew Kellaway, Glen Vaihu, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Tuaina Taii Tualima tries; Carter Gordon 3 con). HT: 7-33
At HBF Park, Perth:Moana Pasifika 22 (Sama Malolo, Sekope Kepu, Kyren Taumoefolau, Christian Leali’ifano tries; William Havili con) Western Force 14 (Bayley Kuenzle, Carlo Tizzano tries; Ben Donaldson 2 con). HT: 7-12
At Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin:Brumbies 27 (Tom Wright, Corey Toole, Lachlan Lonergan tries; Noah Lolesio 3 con, 2 pen) Highlanders 21 (Nikora Broughton, Billy Harmon tries; Sam Gilbert con, 3 pen). HT: 7-11
At FMG Waikato Stadium, Hamilton: Chiefs 46 (Kaylum Boshier 2, Cortez Ratima, Daniel Rona, Etene Nanai-Seturo, Shaun Stevenson tries; Damian McKenzie 5 con, 2 pen) Fijian Drua 29 (Iosefo Masi 2, Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, Kemu Valetini tries; Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 3 con, pen).
HT: 24-17
At Allianz Stadium, Sydney: Blues
12 (Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Zarn Sullivan tries; Stephen Perofeta con), Waratahs 10 (Jay Fonokalafi try; Tane Edmed pen, con). HT: 7-3
Tackles were missed (29), and there were mistakes aplenty from the Blues.
5 Kiwi Simon Cron’s verbal punches
Rugby reporters in Perth got the good juice out of Western Force coach Cron when he unleashed on his team after the defeat to Moana Pasifika.
He didn't try to camouflage his disappointment with cliches, as he ticked off the unmemorable moments his team delivered. He apologised to local supporters, labelling it “some of the worst rugby I’ve ever seen”.
Fair enough. But has he ever tuned into some of those kick-festivals up north?