Super Rugby: Round 2 - Brumbies end 26-Year wait for win in Christchurch

The Brumbies ended their arduous 26-year wait for a win over the Crusaders in Christchurch. The Canberrans finally snapped the losing streak that dates all the way back to the turn of the millennium in 2000, with verteran prop James Slipper on hand to bag a try upon his 200th Super Rugby cap.

The Brumbies, Waratahs and Chiefs remain undefeated in the competition, with the Australian sides claiming solid bonus point wins to propel them towards the top of the table with 10 points each. The Chiefs sit just two points adrift of the hot-starting Aussie pair, as the Hamilton side lay down the marker for the respective New Zealand clubs after the first two rounds.

FRIDAY 20TH FEBRUARY

The Hurricanes marked their first outing of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with a commanding 52-10 bonus-point victory over Moana Pasifika in Wellington, running in eight tries after an early scare. Moana Pasifika struck first through Tuna Tuitama in the sixth minute, capitalising on early Hurricanes errors to take a 5-0 lead. However, once the hosts settled, the contest quickly turned one-sided. Fehi Fineanganofo crossed twice in the first half, while Josh Moorby added two before the break as the Hurricanes established a 24-5 halftime advantage.

The second half brought more of the same. Moorby completed his hat-trick shortly after the restart, Brayden Iose powered over for a double, and Billy Proctor added a late score to complete the rout. Jordie Barrett’s accuracy from the tee ensured the scoreboard reflected the Hurricanes’ dominance.

Moana Pasifika, who handed out seven debuts, struggled defensively once momentum shifted, though Patrick Pellegrini added a late consolation try. Injuries to Israel Leota and William Havili compounded a tough night, while the Hurricanes laid down an early marker with an solid attacking display in Round 2.

Hurricanes: 52
Tries: Fineanganofo 2, Moorby 3, Iose 2, Proctor
Conversions: Cameron 1, Barrett 5

Moana Pasifika: 10
Tries: Tuitama, Pellegrini
Conversions: –

The NSW Waratahs powered to a 36-13 bonus-point win over the Fijian Drua in Sydney, with their impact players proving decisive in the second half of an entertaining Round 2 clash. Charlie Gamble opened the scoring early, but the Drua responded through Taniela Rakuro and two penalties from Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula to edge ahead 13-7. Max Jorgensen produced a moment of brilliance just before halftime, stepping his way down the touchline to restore the Waratahs’ lead and send them into the break 14-10 in front.

The contest remained tight early in the second half before the Waratahs’ forward pack and bench took control. Debutant hooker Ioane Moananu crossed twice from close range, Angus Blyth capitalised on a clever Jake Gordon kick, and Jorgensen sealed the result with his second try off a cross-field kick from Jack Debreczeni. The victory sends the Waratahs into the bye sitting top of the ladder, while the Drua were left to rue handling errors and missed opportunities despite a competitive first-hour performance.

NSW Waratahs: 36
Tries: Gamble, Jorgensen 2, Moananu 2, Blyth
Conversions: Creighton 3

Fijian Drua: 13
Tries: Rakuro
Conversions: Armstrong-Ravula
Penalties: Armstrong-Ravula 2

The Chiefs held on for a narrow 26-23 win over the Highlanders in a fiercely contested Round 2 clash in Dunedin, continuing their streak of eight straight wins against the southern franchise.

The Highlanders began strongly, with Jona Nareki touching down off a Folau Fakatava cut-out to give the hosts the lead. Samisoni Taukei’aho equalised for the Chiefs with a powerful rolling maul, before Leroy Carter’s spectacular try from a Quinn Tuapea counterattack put the visitors ahead at halftime.

In the second half, Cameron Millar kept the Highlanders close with penalties, while the Chiefs extended their advantage through Taukei’aho’s second try and Kalyum Boshier’s score. Late efforts from Caleb Tangitau and Veveni Lasaqa earned the Highlanders a losing bonus point, but missed conversions prevented them from overturning the Chiefs’ lead.

The victory marks a strong start to the season for the Chiefs, who secured back-to-back away wins, while the Highlanders will reflect on a spirited but ultimately heartbreaking performance.

Chiefs: 26
Tries: Taukei’aho 2, Boshier, Carter
Conversions: Jacomb 3

Highlanders: 23
Tries: Nareki, Tangitau, Lasaqa
Conversions: Millar
Penalties: Millar 2

The Blues extended their dominance over the Western Force with a thrilling 42-32 victory in Perth, continuing a 14-match winning streak against the Australian franchise.

The Force started brightly, with prop Harry Johnson-Holmes scoring early and flanker Carlo Tizzano forcing his way over just before halftime to give the hosts a 17-14 lead. Flyhalf Ben Donaldson added three goals, but Blues No.10 Stephen Perofeta and prop Josh Fusitu’a had already given the visitors the lead.

After the interval, the Blues crossed for four more tries, including efforts from Zarn Sullivan, Stephen Perofeta, and Caleb Beehre, to pull away despite the Force hitting back through Donaldson, Tizzano, and Kuenzle.

The defeat leaves the Force winless and struggling at the bottom of the ladder after two rounds, while the Blues continue their winning start to the season with back-to-back victories.

Western Force: 32
Tries: Johnson-Holmes, Tizzano, Kuenzle, Donaldson
Conversions: Donaldson 3
Penalties: Donaldson 2

Blues: 42
Tries: Fusitu’a, Perofeta, Sullivan, Barnes, Forbes, Beehre
Conversions: Perofeta 6

James Slipper marked his 200th Super Rugby appearance with a rare try as the ACT Brumbies ran riot in Christchurch, claiming a 50-24 win over the Crusaders and ending a 26-year drought in the city.

Slipper’s milestone score, assisted by Andy Muirhead, highlighted a dominant Brumbies display that included five second-half tries. Muirhead, Charlie Cale (2), Kadin Pritchard, Liam Bowron, Rob Valetini, and Corey Toole also crossed the line as the visitors ran away with a bonus-point victory.

The Crusaders, despite tries from David Havili, George Bell, Sevu Reece, and Leicester Fainga’anuku, struggled under sustained Brumbies pressure, turning over possession 14 times. The win marks another historic away triumph for Canberra, following last year’s victory at Eden Park against the Auckland Blues.

ACT Brumbies: 50
Tries: Muirhead, Slipper, Cale 2, Pritchard, Bowron, Valetini, Toole
Conversions: Lonergan 2, Edmed 3

Crusaders: 24
Tries: Havili, Bell, Reece, Fainga'anuku
Conversions: Kemara 2