Sitting on 28 points, the Crusaders face a home game on Good Friday against the Blues who beat Moana Pasifika 36-17 in Auckland. The Blues and Hurricanes sit just out of the top six on 16 points each, one point below the seventh-placed Highlanders who beat the Fijian Drua 43-20 in Dunedin.
The Brumbies and Reds share third, five points behind the Crusaders, after the Brumbies beat the Reds 39-26 in Brisbane.
The Waratahs are on 21 points and the Force, who had the bye are sixth on 20.
Statistics:
Most points: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) 101, Sam Gilbert (Highlanders) 77, Ben Donaldson (Force) 72.
Most tries: Carlo Tizzano (Force), Macca Springer (Crusaders) 8, Andy Muirhead (Brumbies), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Filipo Daugunu (Reds), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes), Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders) 6.
Most carries: Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (Moana Pasifika) 106, Langi Gleeson (Waratahs) 101, Will Jordan (Crusaders), Quinn Tupaea (Chiefs), Angus Bell (Waratahs) 95.
Most clean breaks: Reece, Tangitau 13, Jordan, Harry Potter (Force), Corey Toole (Brumbies) 11.
Most defenders beaten: McKenzie 39, Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders) 38, Potter 29.
Most lineout throws won: Ioane Moananu (Crusaders) 71, Soane Vikena (Highlanders), Billy Pollard (Brumbies) 50.
Most metres gained: Tangitau 676, Jordan 573, Tom Wright (Brumbies) 548.
Most offloads: Reece 16, Jordan 13, Naholo, Nathan Hastie (Highlanders) 10.
Most tackles won: Du'Plessis Kirifi (Hurricanes), Tizzano 125, Harry Wilson (Reds) 110.
Hurricanes 31 Crusaders 24
Making an emotional start with second five-eighths, Peter Umaga-Jensen in his 50th game, stepping through for an easier try than might usually be expected against the Crusaders, the Hurricanes had the perfect start. But the Crusaders upped the ante courtesy of their lineout drive as hooker Ioane Moananu went over on the back of a disintegrating challenge to reply. Then, in the 16th minute, lock Scott Barrett dismissed criticism of his form with a startling midfield break that set up Moananu for his second try. Substitute five-eighths, James O'Connor latched onto an overthrown lineout and burst into space to score beneath the crossbar after 31 minutes. Three minutes from the break, Barrett charged close to the Hurricanes line, then got up to play halfback and put wing Chay Fihaki in at the corner.
Up 24-10 at the turn, Moananu corkscrewed his way over from a lineout maul to push them out to a 31-10 lead. Launching some extended forays into the Crusaders 22, the Hurricanes forced two yellow cards for repeated infringements that saw flanker Ethan Blackadder and lock Antonio Shalfoon sin-binned within two minutes of each other. The first came after quick-thinking by Hurricanes flanker Peter Lakai resulted in him taking a tap penalty to score a try, and then Umaga-Jensen went over with a strategic pass from halfback Cameron Roigard to get them within seven points with seven minutes to play. But sustained Crusaders' control saw them hold out for the win.
Hurricanes 31 (Ioane Moananu 2, Tamaiti Williams, Chay Fihaki, James O'Connor tries; Taha Kemara 2 con; O'Connor con) Crusaders 24 (Peter Umaga-Jensen 2, Peter Lakai tries; Riley Hohepa con, pen; Callum Harkin 2 con). HT: 10-24
Waratahs 21 Chiefs 14
Waratahs fullback Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii left it until the big stage to demonstrate what a threat he is at the back of his side when a clever backline entry saw him cross for a try in the 19th minute to serve notice to the table-topping Chiefs of the contest they faced. Four minutes later, home second five-eighths Joey Walton gave the Sydney crowd more to cheer about with an incisive break that saw him feed supporting wing Triston Reilly in for a try. With another try ruled out, the Waratahs then had to concede a 14-point turnaround as the Chiefs attacked from their line, for replacement flanker Kaylum Boshier and starting flanker Luke Jacobson to carry play ahead and give wing Leroy Carter the ball out wide to run in a response.
But in the second half, when camped on the Waratahs line, the Chiefs dropped the ball, and it was moved in-goal for wing Andrew Kelleway to break out Suaalii to show his pass before first five-eighths Lawson Creighton flicked the ball back to Kellaway, who in turn linked with halfback Teddy Wilson to score an outstanding try that proved the difference. The Chiefs attempted to play their way back into the contest, but too many uncharacteristic mistakes were their downfall, and all they could salvage from their poorest performance of the season was a loser's bonus point.
Waratahs 21 (Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Triston Reilly, Teddy Wilson, tries, Lawson Creighton 3 con) Chiefs 14 (Leroy Carter, Samipeni Finau tries; Damiam McKenzie 2 con). HT: 14-7
Blues 36 Moana Pasifika 17
Setting a concerted tone, especially among the pack, from the outset, the Blues took control of their crosstown derby from the outset, hooker Ricky Riccitelli scoring in the third minute from a series of goalline rucks. Then, 12 minutes later, flanker Dalton Papalii ripped the ball from rival No8 Ardie Savea and set the attack rolling with first five-eighths Beauden Barrett on the end of the line, chipping ahead and regathering to score. Ten minutes later, more forward power resulted in lock Patrick Tuipulotu scoring. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa showed Moana Pasifika could also put the pressure on at the line when burrowing through in the 31st minute to score. Three minutes from halftime, a decisive break by second five-eighths AJ Lam took play to the line, and wing Mark Tele'a scored to give the Blues a 24-7 lead.
Moana Pasifika did not help themselves by conceding six penalties and 60 percent possession to the Blues, but they showed a greater appreciation of ball retention in the second half, mounting waves of attacks at the Blues' defence. Only twice did Moana Pasifika break the bonds with flanker Miracle Faiilagi (57th minute) and wing Kyren Taumoefolau (79th) each scoring, but they were only bumps on the Blues chassis. No 8 Hoskins Sotutu's 48th-minute try had made the chances of a comeback unlikely for the visitors, a situation extended after 66 minutes when replacement hooker Kurt Eklund scored.
Blues 36 (Ricky Riccitelli, Beauden Barrett, Patrick Tuipulotu, Mark Tele'a, Hoskins Sotutu, Kurt Eklund tries; Barrett 3 con) Moana Pasifika 17 (Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, Miracle Faiilagi, Kyren Taumoefolau tries; Patrick Pellegrini con). HT: 24-5
Highlanders 43 Fijian Drua 20
Wing Jona Nareki dished up a stunning start for the Highlanders in Dunedin when joining the backline at pace from his left to put debut wing Taniela Filimone in for a try 90 seconds after the start. Then, in the 13th minute, Nareki burst to the goalmouth for a ruck that saw the ball moved to the right, where Filimone scored again. Just before the half, centre Thomas Umaga-Jensen applied his power to ground the ball over the line to score.
But if the Highlanders scored quickly in the first half, it took the Drua only 33 seconds to play an attempted clearance back at the home team with wing Isikeli Rabitu scoring. The response was rapid, with hooker Viveni Lasaqa crossing to require a decision from the TMO. Rounding out a rapid first 11 minutes of the half was halfback Simione Kuruvoli, who was rewarded for his support play to score the Drua's second try, and wing Ponipate Loganimasi, who regained his kick ahead to pull the Drua within four points with 29 minutes to play. Retaining composure saw the Highlanders settle the game before replacement hooker Jack Taylor went the short side from a maul to score in the 60th minute. The result was secured as replacement wing Tanielu Tele'a scored with five minutes to play. As if in celebration, replacement Sam Gilbert ran the ball from the Highlanders' half, linked with Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and took his reverse pass to score in injury time.
Highlanders 43 (Taniela Filimone 2, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Viveni Lasaqa, Jack Taylor, Tanielu Tele'a, Sam Gilbert tries; Cameron Millar 3 con) Fijian Drua 20 (Isikeli Rabitu, Simione Kuruvoli, Ponipate Loganimasi tries; Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula con, pen). HT: 17-3
Brumbies 39 Reds 26
Second five-eighths Hunter Paisami gave the hometown Reds an encouraging start after five minutes against the Brumbies when, on the end of the backline, he chipped ahead to regather and score the opening try. Then at the end of the first quarter, flanker Fraser McReight played halfback to give replacement hooker Richie Asiata a perfect pass into a gap to score. But once the Brumbies got rolling, flanker Rob Valetini started their response with a 23rd-minute try. Prop Allan Alaalatoa levelled things with a 31st-minute snipe at the line for a try. And just on the half, No8 Tuanina Taii Tualima drove over beneath the crossbar to claim a lead the Brumbies never relinquished.
Asiata got the Reds close six minutes after the return with his second try. However, the Brumbies pack went to work with hooker Billy Pollard scoring tries from mauls in the 51st and 56th minutes. Into the last minute, the Reds used a cross-kick in their half. Wing Lachie Anderson claimed it, made pace down the sideline and passed infield for Dre Pakeho to score. But from the restart, a Reds fumble saw halfback Ryan Lonergan gather the ball and charge 10m short of the Reds' line. From the ruck, wing Corey Toole inter-passed with fullback Tom Wright and, with a return pass, scored to complete the win.
Brumbies 39 (Rob Valetini, Allan Alaalatoa, Tuanina Taii Tualima, Billy Pollard 2, Corey Toole tries; Noah Lolesio 3 con; Ryan Lonergan pen) Reds 26 (Hunter Paisami, Richie Asiata 2, Dre Pakeho tries; Tom Lynagh 2 con; Jude Gibbs con). HT: 14-21