Super Rugby: Round 10 Recap - Zac Lomax stars as Force stun Crusaders and Drua shock Brumbies

The Blues survived a late Highlanders onslaught to secure a thrilling 47-40 victory in Auckland, retaining the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy and moving up to second on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. In a breathless contest, the hosts appeared in control for long periods but were forced to cling on as the Highlanders mounted a dramatic late comeback that ultimately fell just short.

The visitors struck first through scrum-half Adam Lennox, but the Blues quickly responded with forward power as Hoskins Sotutu and Anton Segner crossed to establish early momentum. Sam Darry added a third to give the hosts a 19-7 lead, with Beauden Barrett surpassing Morne Steyn to move second on the all-time Super Rugby points list.

Despite a disrupted first half, the Blues carried their dominance into the second period. Bradley Slater’s maul try and Segner’s second stretched the lead to 33-14, seemingly putting the result beyond doubt. However, the Highlanders refused to fold. Lennox’s second sparked belief before late tries from debutant Xavier Tito-Harris, Taniela Tele’a and Soane Vikena set up a grandstand finish. With momentum firmly with the visitors, they pushed deep into Blues territory in the dying moments, but a crucial knock-on ended their hopes, sealing a hard-fought win for the hosts.

Scorers:
Blues 47 (Tries: Segner 2, Slater, Darry, Sotutu, Forbes, Ake; Cons: Barrett 6)
Highlanders 40 (Tries: Lennox 2, Tele’a 2, Tito-Harris, Vikena; Cons: Millar 5)

The NSW Waratahs produced a composed second-half performance to secure a crucial 29-14 bonus-point win over Moana Pasifika in a disrupted Super Rugby Pacific clash in Sydney. In a match interrupted for 40 minutes due to nearby lightning, the hosts were forced to recover from a narrow 14-12 half-time deficit after a lively opening from Moana Pasifika. Scrum-half Melani Matavao proved a constant threat early, sniping twice from quick taps around the ruck to give the visitors a deserved lead.

The Waratahs stayed within touching distance thanks to finishes from Triston Reilly and Sid Harvey, the latter showing sharp instincts in the corner to keep momentum alive before the break. After the lengthy weather delay, Moana Pasifika had opportunities to extend their lead but were undone by handling errors and set-piece issues close to the line. The Waratahs capitalised through sustained forward pressure, with Isaac Kailea powering over from close range before Harvey grabbed his second to edge the hosts in front.

Despite a missed conversion after the restart, Harvey produced a crucial defensive play to halt a dangerous Moana break, swinging momentum firmly in favour of the home side. With time winding down, Folau Fainga’a sealed the result and the bonus point with a rolling-maul try, ensuring the Waratahs snapped their losing streak and kept their finals hopes alive.

NSW Waratahs
Tries: Reilly, Harvey 2, Kailea, Fainga’a
Cons: Harvey 2

Moana Pasifika
Tries: Matavao 2
Cons: Pellegrini 2

The Chiefs surged to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder with a dramatic 22-17 Super Point victory over the Hurricanes, sealed by a late moment of brilliance from returning star Wallace Sititi.

In a contest that lived up to its billing as a top-of-the-table clash, both sides traded physical blows in a tense, defence-dominated encounter. The Hurricanes struck first through Josh Moorby, finishing in the corner after sustained early pressure, before a late first-half surge saw Peter Lakai crash over to give the visitors a 12-3 advantage at the break.

Despite enjoying the majority of territory, the Chiefs struggled to break through a resolute Hurricanes defence, managing only a Damian McKenzie penalty in the opening 40 minutes. However, they found momentum after the interval, with Simon Parker crossing to reduce the deficit.

Asafo Aumua responded with a powerful finish to restore the Hurricanes’ lead, but the game swung again when a rapid Chiefs counterattack allowed Leroy Carter to release Daniel Sinkinson, who crossed late to level the scores and force extra time.

In Super Point, McKenzie’s attacking spark proved decisive. Although his drop goal attempt was charged down, it created the opportunity for Sititi, returning from injury, to gather the loose ball and power over for the match-winning try in dramatic fashion.

Chiefs
Tries: Sititi, Sinkinson, Parker
Cons: McKenzie 2
Pens: McKenzie

Hurricanes
Tries: Moorby, Aumua, Lakai
Cons: Love

The Fijian Drua produced a stunning upset to claim a dramatic 33-28 victory over the ACT Brumbies in Canberra, overcoming the odds to secure one of the most memorable wins in their history.

Arriving with just one win from their previous 33 matches on the road, the Drua defied expectations with a fearless first-half display, surging into a 22-7 lead. Winger Manasa Mataele was at the heart of the early dominance, crossing twice as the visitors capitalised on their attacking opportunities and exposed gaps in the Brumbies’ defence.

The home side responded after the break, sparked by the return of Tom Wright, who provided a pair of try assists to bring his side back into contention. Tries from Ollie Sapsford, Tane Edmed and Corey Toole reduced the deficit to just two points, setting up a tense finish at GIO Stadium.

However, the Drua refused to buckle. A crucial score from Simione Kuruvoli, combined with the boot of Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, proved decisive as they held firm under late pressure, including a frantic final sequence after the siren.

Fuelled by emotion following the impact of Cyclone Vaianu back home, the Drua delivered a performance full of resilience and belief to seal a famous win.

Fijian Drua 33 (Tries: Mataele 2, Fines-Leleiwasa, Kuruvoli; Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 2; Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 3) def ACT Brumbies 28 (Tries: Frost, Sapsford, Edmed, Toole; Cons: R. Lonergan 2, Edmed)

Zac Lomax delivered a statement performance on his first Super Rugby Pacific start as the Western Force produced a stunning 31-26 comeback win over the Crusaders in Perth.

After falling 19-0 behind inside the opening 22 minutes, the Force looked in danger of being blown away, but gradually wrestled momentum back through physical defence and opportunistic attack. Lomax was central to the response, safe under the high ball and heavily involved in the build-up to Henry Robertson’s first-half try, which gave the hosts a foothold before the break.

The Crusaders had threatened to put the game to bed early, but three separate first-half held-up efforts over the line kept the Force alive. That resilience proved crucial as they re-emerged with renewed intensity after halftime.

Lomax struck in the 54th minute, finishing in the corner to level the contest and ignite HBF Park. Although the visitors responded quickly to regain the lead, the Force again refused to fade, with Dylan Pietsch crossing before Harry Johnson-Holmes added another during a period when the Crusaders were reduced to 14 men.

A late Crusaders try was disallowed due to an earlier knock-on, and Carlo Tizzano’s decisive breakdown penalty in the final minutes sealed a famous win that keeps the Force’s finals hopes alive.

SCORES
Western Force 31 (Tries: Robertson 2, Pietsch, Lomax, Johnson-Holmes; Cons: Donaldson 3)
Crusaders 26 (Tries: Bell, Fainga’anuku, McNicholl, Hotham; Cons: Kemara 2, Reihana)