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As we head into the penultimate round of Super Rugby Pacific the race to the finals remains tight. While the Aussie sides have dipped in form over the last few weeks, the NZ sides continue to stamp their authority on the competition.
The Crusaders and Hurricanes scored valuable wins, whilst the Chiefs broke a scoring record against Moana Pasifika at home. The Waratahs kept their finals chances alive with a super-point win over the Force in Perth. With finals on the horizon, we take a look at the Round 15 Super Rugby action.
| # | Team | PL | W | L | D | PD | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Chiefs | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 214 | 6 | 46 |
| 2 |  Crusaders | 13 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 98 | 5 | 45 |
| 3 |  Brumbies | 13 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 89 | 7 | 43 |
| 4 |  Hurricanes | 13 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 54 | 4 | 34 |
| 5 |  Queensland Reds | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 33 |
| 6 |  Moana Pasifika | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | -87 | 4 | 28 |
| 7 |  Blues | 13 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 28 |
| 8 |  Waratahs | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | -94 | 2 | 26 |
| 9 |  Western Force | 14 | 4 | 9 | 1 | -114 | 5 | 23 |
| 10 |  Fijian Drua | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | -103 | 4 | 20 |
| 11 |  Highlanders | 13 | 3 | 10 | 0 | -73 | 8 | 20 |
All Blacks star Sevu Reece capped off a gritty 15-12 win for the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night. The home side were able to keep touch with the ladder-leading Chiefs, after Highlanders playmaker Cam Millar missed a penalty after the full-time siren.
The home crowd didn’t have to wait long for Reece to become Super Rugby’s all-time leading try-scorer. The Crusaders flyer touched down in the 14th minute of the match to move one clear of Hurricanes star TJ Perenara.
Reece’s try proved crucial, but the Highlanders will feel they should have gotten the reward for a tough contest. On a tough night, the Highlanders missed five kicks in what proved to be the final nail in the coffin of their finals hopes.
Reece (14'), Williams (71')
Tries
Lowe (38'), Robinson (49')
Reihana (14')
Conversions
Robinson (50')
Reihana (6')
Penalties
The Queensland Reds continue to struggle towards the pointy end of the Super Rugby season. The home side were upset by the Hurricanes 31-27 in a classic at Suncorp Stadium. The Reds have lost three of their last four matches and slumped to fifth on the table.
Hurricanes winger Fehi Fineanganofo scored a powerful double that proved to be the difference between the two sides. The visitors opened the scoring immediately from the kick-off in a free scoring opening to the match. The home side were punished for their mistakes, conceding two tries in the final five minutes of the first half.
Reds skipper Tate McDermott acknowledged his side paid for some sloppy errors.
“We just went to sleep for 10 minutes before half-time. We got our way back into it, but we just weren’t good enough, McDermott said.
“Obviously really disappointed with the result, but there was heaps of good footy,” McDermott added.
Reds coach Les Kiss couldn’t hide his disappointment at the result, but was proud of his side’s efforts.
“The boys really put in a shift, we just couldn’t get a break at the end there, in any form, to help us out,” Kiss said.
“We’ll take responsibility for the little things that we didn’t get right in the first half. That little ten-minute period was costly,” Kiss added.
The win for the visitors, sees the Hurricanes move up to fourth place in the ladder. The Canes will face Moana Pasifika in the final round of the regular season, while the Reds host the Drua in a must-win clash.
McDermott (3', 41'), Brial (55')
Tries
Love (1'), Fineanganofo (28', 65'), Roigard (35'), Proctor (38')
Lynagh (4', 41', 56')
Conversions
Love (2', 36', 39')
Lynagh (9', 32')
Penalties
The Chiefs cemented their place at the top of the Super Rugby ladder with a record 85-7 win against Moana Pasifika. Fresh off a win against the Blues, Moana were chasing another upset to cement their maiden finals berth.
It was one traffic at Waikato Stadium as the home side put the visitors to the sword. Sean Stevenson scored after eight minutes as the floodgates opened for the home side. On a night of records, scrumhalf Cortez Ratima and winger Leory Carter both scored hat-tricks.
Flyhalf Damien McKenzie helped himself to 23 points, as the Chiefs recorded their biggest winning margin in Super Rugby.
Despite the one-sided result, Chiefs coach urged his players to remain focused on securing a top-two result.
"I'm not sure we saw the best Moana side today for whatever reason and while tonight was a really good performance, we've still got to stay grounded," McMillan said.
The Chiefs will need a win next week against the Highlanders to secure the minor premiership. Moana Pasifika still have control of their destiny, but will face an uphill battle to make their first finals appearance. Ardie Savia’s side will need to win against the Hurricanes in Wellington to avoid missing the top six.
Stevenson (8'), Vaa'i (16'), Ratima (20', 63', 67'), Tupaea (33'), McKenzie (39'), Carter (44', 53', 59'), Taukei'aho (50'), Rona (74'), Penalty Try (80')
Tries
Savea (48')
McKenzie (9', 20', 34', 45', 51', 54', 60', 63', 68')
Conversions
Pellegrini (48')
The Waratahs kept their faint finals hopes alive with a super-point win over the Western Force in Perth. A spectacular 91st-minute try to Waratahs winger Darby Lancaster proved to be the difference. The on-field no-try decision was overturned by the TMO to hand the visitors a finals lifeline.
Both sides struggled in the wet conditions, with Wallabies veteran Kurtley Beale missing a long-range penalty kick in regular time. There were plenty of positives for the home side, with Carlo Tizzano continuing his spectacular form. Tizzano scored his 13th try of the season, setting a try-scoring record for a forward in the Super Rugby season.
The result gave the Waratahs their first away win of the season, and coach Dan McKellar was delighted with the result.
"Certainly heart rate up on that one but pleased that we've got a W and we can celebrate," said McKellar..
"Our first away win of the season and we've had a rough few weeks. We were really brave and courageous there at times in that last passage or period tonight and fortunately we got a win,” he added.
A win next week for the Waratahs against the Blues gives them a chance of moving up to sixth in the Super Rugby standings.
Tizzano (10'), Grealy (32'), Stewart (37')
Tries
Reilly (3'), Lancaster (18')
Donaldson (39')
Conversions
Edmed (4', 19')
Penalties
Bowen (74')
