Chiefs and Crusaders march on as Brumbies stumble in Super Rugby

The Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders both registered bonus-point wins to remain in lockstep at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings at the end of round 11 as third-placed ACT Brumbies lost at home to the Wellington Hurricanes.

The Crusaders showed attacking flair and defensive steel in their 43-10 win over the Otago Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday to draw level on 37 points with the Chiefs, who downed Western Force 56-22 at Mount Maunganui on Friday.

The Brumbies were outmuscled 35-29 by the Hurricanes in the last match of the round to drop off the pace on 29 points, two ahead of the fourth-placed Queensland Reds after they downed the reigning champion Auckland Blues 35-21.

The 14-times champion Crusaders were at their ruthless best early in the south island derby with fullback Will Jordan crossing twice and hooker Codie Taylor scoring the first of his two tries in the opening half hour.

The Highlanders were unable to get across the try line until winger Jonah Lowe went over in the 63rd minute but the Crusaders added three more scores in the final quarter to secure an eighth win in 10 matches this season.

The Reds, coming off back-to-back losses, also made a hot start against the Blues with flyhalf Tom Lynagh crossing for two tries in the first eight minutes at a rain-soaked Lang Park in Brisbane on Friday.

The Blues came back hard but the home side defended with steel while a red card for winger Mark Telea after half an hour did them no favours.

Scrumhalf Tate McDermott scored a great individual try and winger Lachie Anderson crossed after a superbly-worked lineout move early in the second half to give the Reds a big enough cushion to ensure a first win over the Blues in