Chiefs back to winning ways, Brumbies stunned by Force
Chiefs scored three tries on Saturday having controlled the contest in the heavy rain to make it 11 wins from 12 games this season, bouncing back from a shock defeat at Queensland Reds last week.
It extends Chiefs' lead at the top of the table to eight points with two rounds to play and they now look odds-on favourites to have a home run through the knockout stages.
It was not the most convincing of wins, but co-captain Sam Cane said the weather dictated the way they played.
"When we come to this point of the season, the weather changes and I think the rugby we play has to change accordingly," Cane told Sky Sports.
"It won't be pieces of individual brilliance that win games, it will be a real collective effort."
Western Force kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a 34-19 victory over the Brumbies which has likely ended the latter’s chances of topping the table, but moved the Perth-based side into the top eight.
The home team raced into a 21-0 lead as they caught the Brumbies cold at the start of the game, and after the visitors had rallied to trail 24-19, Force prop Marley Pearce made sure of the win as he crossed the line after 16 phases.
Second-placed Canterbury Crusaders were without several of their leading players but had no trouble in thumping winless Moana Pasifika 41-7 following a strong first-half performance that put them 29-0 up at the break.
"Our focus was to start well, especially playing into a stiff breeze that required us forwards to set the play," Crusaders captain Scott Barrett said.
"I’m just pleased with how this group went. There were quite a lot of young boys here and they rolled their sleeves up with a lot of effort."
The Reds could not back up their victory last weekend as they lost 45-26 at home to Auckland Blues who climbed to fourth.
It was a tight contest at halftime as the Blues led 17-14, before running away with it in a dominant second half. The Blues scored five tries through their backs and one from lock Patrick Tuipulotu.
New South Waratahs made it four wins in succession with a 32-18 success against Fijian Drua as winger Mark Nawaqanitawase ran in two tries.
The win ensured a quarter-final place for the Sydney-based side, who have seen a big upturn in fortunes following a poor start to the campaign.
Otago Highlanders stayed in contention for a place in the knockout rounds as centre Sam Gilbert kicked two pressure penalties in the final 10 minutes to seal a 20-17 victory over Melbourne Rebels.
The second of those penalties was the last kick of the game.
