CHIEFS 15 SUNWOLVES 30
Flyhalf Hayden Parker was faultless off the tee as the Sunwolves capitalised on their scoring opportunities to upset the Chiefs in Hamilton and record their first win away from home.
Openside flanker Shuhei Matsuhashi, lock Uwe Helu and winger Gerhard van den Heever all crossed for the Tokyo-based side, who had won just six games in their three previous seasons of Super Rugby.
Former Otago flyhalf Parker slotted five from five with the boot as the Sunwolves dominated possession and territory in the first half and ensured they capitalised on Chiefs' errors and turnovers.
Centre Alex Nankivell and winger Etene Nanai-Seturo both scored tries for the twice champions Chiefs, who have now lost all three of their games this season and face an uphill battle to get into playoff contention.
REBELS 24 HIGHLANDERS 19
Replacement scrumhalf Michael Ruru knocked the ball out of Shannon Frizell's hands as he was diving for a 79th-minute try that could have tied the scores with the conversion to come to give the Rebels victory over the Highlanders in temperatures above 30 Celsius (86F) in Melbourne.
With Will Genia and Quade Cooper orchestrating their flat-attack close to the defensive line, centre Tom English crossed twice while Jack Maddocks and Billy Meeks also scored five-pointers for the home side.
Frizell had scored an early try for the Highlanders, while Siate Tokolahi and Jackson Hemopo also crossed as the visitors came within centimetres of clinching a third-late comeback in succession only for Ruru's hand to deny them.
HURRICANES 43 BRUMBIES 13
Ngani Laumape scored a hat-trick of tries on his home ground as the Hurricanes showed how dangerous they can be with victory over the Brumbies in Palmerston North.
Hurricanes captain Dane Coles also crossed twice while James Blackwell scored after the final hooter for the home side, who were given no ball or space last week by the Crusaders, but were at their dynamic best on Friday as they played at pace and attacked from anywhere on the field.
Hooker Folau Fainga'a and Tom Wright crossed for the Brumbies, who showed signs of the play that destroyed the Waikato Chiefs 54-17 last week but were forced to chase the Hurricanes in the second half.
(Compiled by Greg Stutchbury; Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
