Read returns as Crusaders consolidate top spot>>
THE CRUSADERS cemented top spot in the table with a big win over the Highlanders to celebrate Wyatt Crockett’s 200match milestone.
David Havili, Scott Barrett and Richie Mo’unga all crossed for the Crusaders in the highly entertaining 45-22 encounter, which moved them to 58 points and means all of their playoff matches, including the final if they make it, will be at home.
The Crusaders, on the march towards a possible ninth title, also received a massive boost ahead of the knock-outs with All Blacks captain Kieran Read returning after back surgery last year and putting in a solid shift before he was replaced in the 48th minute.
Tyrel Lomax, Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo all crossed for Highlanders.
Ngani Laumape scored four tries and set up another for Julian Savea as the
Hurricanes ended a threegame losing run with a 42-24 win over the Blues to keep alive their hopes of a home quarter-final.
Centre Laumape scored twice in the first half and his powerful running set up Savea, all from attacking scrums, while he grabbed his third from an attacking lineout late in the second half.
Blues No.8 Akira Ioane’s try had followed two from his brother Rieko to make the score 28-24 with 15 minutes remaining before Laumape completed his hat-trick by finishing off an intercept made by Beauden Barrett, who had also crossed earlier.
The Hurricanes now have 50 points, second in the New Zealand conference and fourth overall, five ahead of the Chiefs, who they play next week in Hamilton.
Damian McKenzie again showcased his attacking
prowess by scoring one try and setting up another to help the Chiefs to a 24-19 victory victory over the Brumbies.
The utility back finished off a smart counter-attack to score, before his intercept of Joe Powell’s pass set up Johnny Fa’auli’s try in the second half.
The Brumbies, who were kept scoreless in the first half, fought back in the second with a try-double from Wallaby winger Henry Speight and another from full-back Tom Banks but they came up short.
Full-back Jono Lance kicked two late penalties and added a converted try to help the Reds dent the
Rebels’ chances of topping the Australian conference with a 37-23 victory in Brisbane.
The Reds scrum dominated, earning a penalty try and providing the platform for winger Filipo Daugunu’s score late in the first half, while Izack Rodda charged down a kick from Jack Maddocks.
Rebels stay in the hunt for the playoffs, four points behind the Aussie conference-leading Waratahs, but will need to finish with more points than the Sharks and Brumbies to secure the eighth and final playoff position.
Try-doubles from Israel Folau, Taqele Naiyaravoro and Alex Newsome helped the Waratahs run riot over the Sunwolves 77-25 after the Japanese outfit were reduced to 14 men for almost 40 minutes, and to 13 for the final ten.
The win seals the Aussie Conference title for Waratahs and a guaranteed home quarter-final.
The Sunwolves had winger Semisi Masirewa sent off in the final minute of the first half for a lifting tackle on Bernard Foley while Fumiaki Tanaka was sin binned for a dangerous tackle on Jake Gordon in the 70th minute.
Sekope Kepu, Kurtley Beale, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Curtis Rona and Michael Wells all also crossed for the home side, who moved nine points ahead of the Rebels and into the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Michael Leitch and Aki Yamada, who grabbed a second try after halftime, scored for the visitors, who had been in the game and trailing only 24-18 when Masirewa was sent off.
The Jaguares missed the opportunity to overtake the Lions in the South African Conference after a disappointing 43-34 defeat to the Bulls.
The Argentinians were exceptional in the first quarter, going 19-0 up via Nicolas Sanchez, Pablo Matera and Gonzalo Bertranou tries.
But Johnny Kotze, Embrose Papier and Jesse Kriel all touched down for a two-point advantage at the break.
Bertranou completed his brace after the interval but efforts from Jamba Ulengo and Marco van Staden effectively secured the victory.
The Stormers finished their 2018 Super Rugby campaign on a high note with victory over the
Sharks at Newlands. The Stormers won 27-16, after leading 21-9 at halftime with tries from Cobus Wiese, EW Viljoen and Raymond Rhule. Josh Stander converted all three and added two penalties to secure the win, with Kobus van Wyk scoring the Sharks solitary try.
The defeat dents the Sharks’ playoff aspirations. They must defeat Jaguares next week and hope for results to go their way at the Rebels and Brumbies, their rivals for the final playoff spot.
The Stormers, bottom of the SA conference, were already out of the running for a spot in the knockout rounds.