Super Rugby - Round 9 Recap: NRL convert Zac Lomax makes Western Force debut

This debut fell upon one of rugby's biggest professional club away trips, as Western Force made the 11 and a half hour flight, to travel 6,350kms in order to reach Laukota in the proceeding week. This match-up was one of five Super Rugby clashes that lit up round nine, as the Southern Hemisphere showcase crossed the half-way mark for the regular season. In case you missed any of the action from across New Zealand, Australia and Fiji, here's is RUCK's full recap.

The ACT Brumbies ground out a crucial 14-10 victory over the Highlanders in Dunedin, producing a resilient defensive display to get their Super Rugby Pacific campaign back on track. Coming off a difficult run of form, the visitors were dealt an early disruption with the withdrawal of key back-rower Charlie Cale midway through the first half. However, they responded with grit, absorbing sustained pressure while capitalising on their limited opportunities.

Despite a slow start and a high turnover count, the Brumbies struck first through captain Ryan Lonergan, who marked his 100th appearance by sniping from close range to give his side a narrow half-time lead. The Highlanders came out with renewed intent after the break and eventually edged ahead when Jona Nareki produced a moment of brilliance, chipping ahead and regathering to score.

With momentum swinging towards the hosts, the decisive moment arrived late on. A yellow card to Henry Bell proved costly, and the Brumbies took full advantage as Luke Reimer powered over from close range to reclaim the lead. From there, the visitors held firm under late pressure, with their defensive resolve sealing a valuable away win to steady their season.

Brumbies: 14
Tries: R. Lonergan, Reimer
Cons: R. Lonergan 2

Highlanders: 10
Try: Nareki
Cons: Millar
Pen: Millar

The Chiefs produced a ruthless attacking display to dismantle Moana Pasifika 62-17 in Auckland, with Quinn Tupaea and Kyren Taumoefolau at the heart of a dominant performance.

Tupaea delivered a standout showing, scoring twice and laying on two more as the Chiefs ran riot, particularly in a one-sided first half. His midfield partnership with Taumoefolau proved devastating, consistently slicing through the Moana defence with pace and precision.

The Chiefs raced into a commanding lead, with Tupaea opening the scoring before turning provider for Taumoefolau and Samipeni Finau. By half-time, the hosts had built a 26-0 advantage, while Moana Pasifika were left frustrated after being held up twice over the line and reduced to 14 players following Tom Savage’s yellow card.

Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished after the break. Damian McKenzie added his influence to proceedings, crossing twice to become the competition’s all-time leading try scorer while also surpassing 1,500 career points in Super Rugby.

Taumoefolau added his second soon after, while further scores from Josh Jacomb and Tyrone Thompson completed the rout. Moana Pasifika managed late consolation tries, but they came far too late to trouble the rampant hosts. The emphatic bonus-point victory temporarily sent the Chiefs to the top of the table and underlined their title credentials.

Chiefs: 62
Tries: Tupaea 2, Taumoefolau 2, Thompson 2, McKenzie 2, Finau, Jacomb
Cons: McKenzie 6

Moana Pasifika: 17
Tries: Alaimalo, Pole, Faiilagi
Cons: Pellegrini

The Fijian Drua held their nerve to edge a dramatic 24-22 victory over the Western Force in Lautoka, spoiling Zac Lomax’s highly anticipated rugby union debut. In front of a passionate home crowd, the Drua extended their perfect record against the Force in Fiji, with debutant Isikeli Basiyalo proving decisive in a thrilling contest.

The Force made the brighter start, capitalising on an early yellow card to Etonia Waqa as Misinale Epenisa crossed for the opening try. However, the Drua quickly responded, with Penaia Cakobau and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula both powering over before slick handling sent Isikeli Rabitu across to give the hosts a 19-7 half-time lead.

The visitors hit back after the break, with Dylan Pietsch finishing a well-worked move before Jeremy Williams muscled over to cut the deficit to two points. But just as momentum swung their way, Basiyalo intercepted a Kurtley Beale pass and raced clear to score a crucial try.

Late drama followed as Ilaisa Droasese was sin-binned, allowing Will Harris to cross from a maul and set up a grandstand finish. However, missed kicks proved costly, with Beale unable to convert and Ben Donaldson pushing a long-range penalty wide in the final moments.

Despite a spirited comeback, the Force were left to rue missed opportunities as their finals hopes took another hit.

Fijian Drua: 24
Tries: Cakobau, Rabitu, Armstrong-Ravula, Basiyalo
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 2

Western Force: 22
Tries: Epenisa, Pietsch, Williams, Harris
Cons: Donaldson

The Hurricanes underlined their title credentials with an emphatic 42-19 victory over the Blues in Wellington, producing a statement performance to cap a dominant display.

The hosts flew out of the blocks, with Callum Harkin slicing through for an early opener before Billy Proctor added a second as the Hurricanes surged into a 14-0 lead. Their relentless pressure had the Blues on the back foot, but the visitors showed resilience to fight their way back into the contest.

AJ Lam sparked the response before slick handling released Caleb Clarke to finish superbly in the corner, cutting the deficit to just two points. However, the Hurricanes steadied before the break, with Fehi Fineanganofo crossing after chaos created by Cam Roigard to give the hosts a 21-12 half-time advantage.

The momentum continued after the interval as Asafo Aumua powered over from a rolling maul, while Roigard’s tactical kicking kept the Blues pinned deep in their own half. A yellow card to Fineanganofo briefly swung momentum, allowing Malachi Wrampling to score and keep the Blues in touch. But the Hurricanes quickly regained control, with Harkin grabbing his second after reacting sharply to a loose ball.

Roigard then sealed the result with a quick tap try, capping an influential display as the Hurricanes moved firmly into title contention.

Hurricanes: 42
Tries: Harkin 2, Aumua, Roigard, Fineanganofo, Proctor
Cons: Love 6

Blues: 19
Tries: Lam, Clarke, Wrampling
Cons: B. Barrett 2

The Queensland Reds broke a 15-year drought against the Crusaders with a hard-fought 31-26 victory at Suncorp Stadium, keeping their Super Rugby Pacific finals push firmly on track.

It was a landmark night for the Reds, who showed composure in a tense, high-quality contest against the reigning champions. Early tries from Fraser McReight and Carter Gordon set the tone as Queensland matched the Crusaders’ physicality and tempo, but the home side were dealt a major setback when Gordon left the field injured shortly after half-time.

The Crusaders refused to go away, responding through Chay Fihaki and George Bell as the momentum swung repeatedly in a tight first half that saw the Reds lead 14-12 at the break. The second period remained equally tense, with Kalani Thomas sparking the Reds’ restart through a sharp break and grubber for Tim Ryan, only for the Crusaders to level again via their driving maul.

With the game in the balance deep into the final quarter, Filipo Daugunu stepped up in his 100th appearance, powering over from close range to edge the Reds ahead. Replacement Louis Werchon then sealed the win in dramatic fashion, scooping up a loose ball and sprinting 50 metres to finish the Crusaders’ resistance.

A late Fihaki try salvaged a bonus point for the visitors, but it was the Reds who celebrated a famous and long-awaited victory.

Reds: 31
Tries: McReight, Gordon, Ryan, Daugunu, Werchon
Cons: Campbell 2, McLaughlin-Phillips

Crusaders: 26
Tries: Fihaki 2, Bell, Lio-Willie
Cons: Kemara, Reihana 2