Chiefs back to winning ways, Brumbies stunned by Force

Lock Tupou Vaa'i scored two tries as table-toppers Waikato Chiefs returned to winning ways with a 23-12 victory over Wellington Hurricanes in a Super Rugby Pacific clash played in dire conditions, but ACT Brumbies slipped to a surprise defeat. 

Chiefs scored three tries on Saturday having controlled the contest in the heavy rain to make it 11 wins from 12 games this season, bouncing back from a shock defeat at Queensland Reds last week.

It extends Chiefs' lead at the top of the table to eight points with two rounds to play and they now look odds-on favourites to have a home run through the knockout stages.

It was not the most convincing of wins, but co-captain Sam Cane said the weather dictated the way they played.

"When we come to this point of the season, the weather changes and I think the rugby we play has to change accordingly," Cane told Sky Sport.

"It won't be pieces of individual brilliance that win games, it will be a real collective effort."

Western Force kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a 34-19 victory over the Brumbies which has likely ended the latter’s chances of topping the table, but moved the Perth-based side into the top eight.

The home team raced into a 21-0 lead as they caught the Brumbies cold at the start of the game, and after the visitors had rallied to trail 24-19, Force prop Marley Pearce made sure of the win as he crossed the line after 16 phases.

Second-placed Canterbury Crusaders were without several of their leading players but had no trouble in thumping winless Moana Pasifika 41-7 following a strong first-half performance that put them 29-0 up at the break.

"Our focus was to start well, especially playing into a stiff breeze that required us forwards to set the play," Crusaders