Super Rugby round up: Tahs’ strike back after ‘diabolical’ refereeing decision while dying franchise ships 50 to league leaders
The race for the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs has become clearer this weekend, with two New Zealand sides and an Australian team winning the three matches on Saturday.
Here is the rundown from the games:
Brumbies 32-15 Western Force
With the Brumbies chasing the upper tiers of the league and the Force struggling near the bottom, it was all to play for at the GIO Stadium in Canberra.
The local derby was dominated by the forwards, with the opening tries on either side coming from the power of the pick and go, through Lachlan Shaw and Harry Johnson-Homes, respectively.
The pressure that the home side exerted finally cracked the visitors towards the end of the first half, when Corey Toole broke the line, before Ollie Sapsford slid over in the corner to regain the lead and take the ascendancy in the encounter.
A penalty in front of the sticks and a try from Ryan Lonergan later, and the Brumbies were well out in front, unlikely to be caught.
The Force weren’t about to lie down, however, diving over through Carlo Tizzano midway through the second half. But that was to be their last score, as the Brumbies rebuilt their lead with another penalty and one final try for Chris Mickleson.
Moana Pasifika 17-50 Hurricanes
Bottom-dwelling Moana Pasifika got off to an awful start against the league-topping Hurricanes, conceding three tries without reply in the opening half hour.
An impressive finish from Tuna Tuitama looked to have revived the evening in North Harbour, but when Moorby completed his hat-trick after the half, and Kiniviliame Naholo dotted down with two neat finishes, all hopes of a comeback were effectively ended.
Israel Leota and Tuitama would again go over before the death, but these tries proved to be nothing more than consolation efforts, wiped off by a Jone Rova touchdown and Moorby’s fourth.
Highlanders 31-26 Waratahs
Both sides were seated just below the mid-point on the table before the match, and the occasion that followed was just as end-to-end as one would expect.
The Highlanders struck first, second, and third through all three of their back three players, Jonah Lowe, Caleb Tangitau, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, to take an early and commanding lead.
The visitors then benefited from what can only be described as a diabolical yellow card – one that referee Damon Murphy won’t want to watch back – scoring through Andrew Kellaway during their one-man advantage.
The yellow card in question involved Timoci Tavatavanawai getting penalised during an attempted jackal. The footage can be seen below.
😶🌫️ pic.twitter.com/sOO8nKpu8e
— Jack Tunney (@JackTunneyRugby) May 9, 2026
The Highlanders returned fire shortly after, through Lowe for his second.
Waratahs‘ substitute Apolosi Ranawai then powered over, before Clement Halaholo and Sid Harvey made the most of a 20-minute red card to secure themselves a losing bonus point.