Chiefs fall over the Crusaders in Super Rugby; Injuries hit Wallabies Lolesio and Suaalii

Wellington, New Zealand (AP)-The Chiefs’ 35-19 win over the Crusaders in the 13th round of Super Rugby Saturday broke the stalemate on top of the table and Hamilton, New Zealand Chiefs, who was the best team in the tournament this season. The match at the Crusaders’ headquarters in Christchurch was one of only four in the round, but all four changed the order of the playoffs. The Chiefs moved two points on top of the table, while the Act Brumbies beat the Western Force 33-14 to abandon the Crusaders in second place. The Auckland-based Blues beat the Fijian Drua 34-5 in a rare night match in Fiji, moving to fifth place and leaving the Drua Last and now outside the playoffs. The Queensland Reds consolidated fourth place when they beat the eternal opponents of New South Wales Waratahs 28-21 to leave the Waratahs with only a close hope of making the playoffs out of their current eighth place. The Chiefs started energetically against the Crusaders, quickly won ball and moved it at the pace, which looked dangerous. But the crusaders dominated at the tackle and yielded coping errors and turnovers from where they achieved field position. The crusaders were clinical from close to close and scored three tries to lead 19-3. The tide turned when the Chiefs scored by winger Emoni Narawa in the first half of the first half and put themselves in the match at 19-10. Flyhalf Damian McKenzie ended a special match with an effort in the third minute of the second half, and left wing Leroy Carter went almost 80 meters to achieve the three who gave the Chiefs their first lead. Backup Wallace Sititi clinched the victory and his return of a serious injury in the 73rd minute. McKenzie kicked three penalties and three conversions that gave him 20 points overall. He must now be the leading candidate for the All Blacks No. 10 -jersey against France in July. The Chiefs came up with the Crusaders at the match level, but first and foremost on points difference. This followed their loss to the Wellington-based hurricanes in round 12. “The reality we beat just as well last week, and it didn’t sit well with anyone,” Clayton McMillan said. “We knew that we had to rise physically, both sides of the ball. This is something the Chiefs are proud of. ‘ Japan-bound Wallabies Flyhalf Noah Lolesio caused concern when he was taken to a Brancard in Saturday’s match between the Brumbies and the western power with a suspected spine injury. The 25-year-old Lolesio is trapped in an uncomfortable position to try a clearance. The game has been suspended for some time while receiving medical care before being carried off the field. Before the match was finished, the news came from the Brumbies locker room that Lolesio had movement in his arms and legs. Brumbies Coach Stephen Larkham later offers a positive update. “He went to the hospital,” Larkham said. “I think he gets some scans, but he felt full function and full.” On Friday, Wallabies fullback Joseph-Aucuso Sua’alii was also taken off the field on a medical vehicle and in a neck brace after a fierce collision in the match between the Waratahs and Reds. He had a serious concussion. Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said Sua’alii was rough, but later left the stadium with his parents. The preparation of the Drua for Friday’s important match against the Blues was disrupted when players learned hours before the kick -off of death in France of former Fiji Sevens International Josaia Raisuqe. The 30-year-old Raisuqe played for the French Top 14 Club Castres. He died in a traffic accident on his way to practice and was a friend and former teammate of many of the Drua players. In a social media post, the Drua said: “Our hearts are heavy. We lost more than a player. We lost a brother, a teammate and a true son of Fijian rugby.” ___