Rugby-Highlights from week seven of Super Rugby
April 8 (Reuters) - Highlights from week seven of Super Rugby:
BRUMBIES 43 REDS 10
The ACT Brumbies scored five unanswered tries in the second half to thrash the Queensland Reds in a bonus point Super Rugby victory on Saturday which cemented their place at the top of the Australian conference.
The match was tied 10-10 at halftime after Reds winger Chris Kuridrani and his cousin, the Brumbies centre Tevita Kuradrani, crossed before the break.
Hooker Robbie Abel went over off a rolling maul within two minutes of the restart and fullback Aidan Toua showed his pace to finish off a chance created by a searing break from prop Allan Alaalatoa two minutes later.
Loose forward Jarrad Butler secured the bonus point with a try off the back of a dominant Brumbies scrum in the 52nd minute and James Dargaville and flanker Chris Alcock put the gloss on the victory in the last 10 minutes.
READ MORE:
Brumbies put Reds to the sword with second-half try blitz
Tokyo delight as Sunwolves beat first South African side
SANZAAR to announce Super Rugby future on Sunday
Hurricanes use powerful first half to beat Waratahs
Stiles puts underperforming Reds on notice
World Cup winner Sonny Bill set for return after Achilles injury
Cutting team won't solve Australian woes - ex-ARU boss
Australia growing inferiority complex against NZ - Kafer
Super Rugby uncertainty affecting Force players - Haylett-Petty
HIGHLANDERS 26 BLUES 20
Sonny Bill Williams made his return to rugby after seven months out through injury but could not help the Blues upset the Highlanders in Dunedin.
The All Blacks centre, who last played a game of fifteens in the 2015 World Cup final, came on as a 55th minute replacement with the Blues trailing 23-20.
One Williams midfield burst almost set up a try, and a muffed pass blew another opportunity, but the Blues were unable to turn their possession into points.
Tries from prop Charlie Faumuina and lock Gerard Cowley-Tuioti helped the Blues to a 20-13 halftime lead but five-pointers from fullback Ben Smith and centre Malakai Fekitoa as well as 16 points from Marty Banks's boot gave the Highlanders a fourth win of the season.
SUNWOLVES 21 BULLS 20
A 69th minute try from Takaaki Nakazuru and a Yu Tamura penalty five minutes later gave the Sunwolves their first win of the year - and only their second since making their Super Rugby debut last season - with a thrilling comeback victory over the three-times champion Bulls.
Sunwolves number eight Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco gave the home side the perfect start when he finished off a flowing move in the sixth minute but centre Burger Odendaal shrugged off two tacklers and ran 40 metres to reply for the Bulls.
The Sunwolves were 11-10 up at the break but a penalty and a converted try from Bulls winger Travis Ismaiel, who broke three tackles to touch down in the corner, gave the visitors a 20-11 lead in the 63rd minute.
HURRICANES 38 WARATAHS 28
The Hurricanes were able to use a scintillating first half to beat the Waratahs, despite having All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett sent off for two yellow cards.
Ngani Laumape (two), Barrett, his younger brother Jordie, winger Wes Goosen and lock Mark Abbott all scored tries for the home side while fullback Jordie added four conversions.
Loose forward Ned Hanigan, fullback Bryce Hegarty, scrumhalf Jake Gordon and replacement Andrew Kellaway all crossed for the visitors, with flyhalf Bernard Foley converting all four. (Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty and Pritha Sarkar)
