Rugby-Super Rugby week two
March 4 (Reuters) - Highlights from week two of Super Rugby:
HURRICANES 71 REBELS 6
Nehe Milner-Skudder grabbed a hat-trick of tries in a brilliant return from injury as the Wellington Hurricanes destroyed the Melbourne Rebels on Saturday.
Sidelined for a year after shoulder surgery, the fleet-footed All Blacks back grabbed the Hurricanes' first try early and crossed twice late in the game to continue the defending champions' perfect start to the season.
Inside centre Ngani Laumape and winger Vince Aso each scored a brace of tries, with Matt Proctor, Reed Prinsep, Ardie Savea and his brother Julian also touching down at a sunbathed Wellington Regional Stadium.
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Bok centre de Allende out for three months
CHIEFS 41 BLUES 26
The Chiefs capitalised on the red card shown to Steve Luatua on the stroke of halftime to record a comfortable victory over the Blues in Hamilton.
Loose forward Luatua was sent off for a high tackle on Chiefs' winger Tim Nanai-Williams, whose side then used the resulting penalty to set up an attacking lineout that allowed hooker Hika Elliot to crash over from a rolling maul.
Elliot's try extended the score to 22-9 at the break, even though until that point the game had been in the balance despite Ihaia West missing two of five penalty chances for the Blues.
WESTERN FORCE 26 REDS 19
Fijian wing Eto Nabuli scored a hat-trick of tries for the Reds, but that was not enough to lift his side to victory as the Western Force picked up a first win of the season in Perth.
Their cause not helped by a yellow card for replacement prop Sef Fa'agase for a no-hands tackle as they led 19-18 with 13 minutes remaining.
The Force scored their tries through wing Chance Peni, lock Matt Philip and centre Curtis Rona, but lost Wallaby lock Adam Coleman to injury in the first half. (Compiled by Ian Ransom, edited by Peter Rutherford)