Super Rugby: Wrap Up and Team of the Week

Full-back McKenzie was on target with the match-winning kick in the 83rd minute of a see-saw Super Rugby Aotearoa clash that seemed set to yield an upset result. Asafo Aumua's 68th-minute try, which was converted by Jordie Barrett, had the struggling Hurricanes on course for just their second victory of the 2021 season. James Blackwell and Billy Proctor also touched down for the visitors - the former doing so in the opening minute of proceedings - as the team stuck at the bottom of the standings gave their second-placed opponents a serious scare.

Chiefs managed two tries themselves through Pita-Gus Sowakula and Bryn Gatland, but it was McKenzie's trusty boot that proved crucial in deciding the outcome. The New Zealand international landed both conversion attempts as well as four penalties, the last of which dashed Hurricanes' hopes in dramatic fashion.

Western Force 30-27 Reds

A lifting tackle saw Force centre Tevita Kurindrani shown a yellow card in the opening stages of the match and Queensland quickly capitalised through Hunter Paisami. In his return from a calf complaint, the Wallaby outside centre steamed onto a Hamish Stewart short ball before bulldozing his way through four Force defenders to open the scoring for the Reds. O’Connor made no mistake with the conversion to open up a 7-nil lead. The home side hit back quickly courtesy of a Jordan Olowofela intercept try, with
Domingo Miotti’s conversion levelling the scores at 7-all.
 
Queensland reclaimed their lead minutes later thanks to a stunning Taniela Tupou effort, the prop bulldozing his way through seven defenders to streak over 20-metres and score his side’s second try of the night. O’Connor again converted to put the score out to 14-7 at the 12-minute mark. Toni Pulu was yellow carded in the 22^nd minute to again reduce the Force to 14-men and Queensland again made the most of their advantage, this time through Filipo Daugunu. The flying winger scored off a well-worked scrum play, Tate McDermott sending him flying through a gap with a deft inside-ball off his hip. O’Connor’s third conversion made the score 21-7.
 
A Miotti penalty and Feleti Kaitu'u try cut the home side’s deficit to six-points late in the opening half, as the Force fought back to trail by six-points at the break. Jordan Petaia became the third player of the night to be yellow carded early in the second stanza and the Force soon made the most of their advantage through Olowofela who crossed for his second try out wide. Miotti missed the conversion chance, as Queensland held onto a narrow 21-20 lead at the 48-minute mark. A 45-metre O’Connor penalty then stretched the Reds’ lead to 24-20, but Miotti quickly responded with a three-pointer of his own to again bring the Force within one-point. Jeremy Thrush was shown a yellow card in the 68^th minute for taking out scrumhalf Kalani Thomas, with O’Connor slotting the ensuing penalty goal to extend the Queensland advantage to 27-23.

 
A third try to Olowofela saw the Force claim their first lead of the match in the 75^th minute, with Miotti’s conversion giving his side a 30-27 lead in the final minutes. Queensland had the opportunity to snatch victory in the last minutes of the game, but the hosts were able to hold on to seal the first finals appearance in their club’s history.

Waratahs 25-36 Rebels

A miserable 0-8 record was confirmed on Saturday as the Tahs were beaten by the Australian conference's second-bottom side, despite the Rebels having two men sent off in Sydney. It took just 33 seconds for the hosts to get that sinking feeling as Stacey Ili touched down after collecting Matt Toomua's precise cross-field kick.

To their credit, the Tahs promptly hit back with a pair of Ben Donaldson penalties to suggest a close contest may be on the cards. Even after Michael Wells' converted try restored some comfort for the Rebels, the dismissal of Isi Naisarani for a high tackle handed the home side fresh impetus.

Mark Nawaqanitawase and Jack Maddocks both dotted down to capitalise, with the Rebels clinging to a 21-18 half-time lead after a brace of Toomua three-pointers. The visitors made light of their numerical disadvantage, Rob Leota diving over off the back of a maul, although Carlo Tizzano was quick to respond with a try of his own.

That proved to be the Tahs' last score, though, and the Rebels added gloss through Toomua's penalty and a late Matt Gibbon try. There was still time for Pone Fa'amausili to see red for a driving his shoulder into the head of Max Douglas, but the 13 men saw out the remainder of the game without further incident.

Crusaders 26-6 Blues