The Force ran out of time as the ACT Brumbies lost for a second consecutive weekend with a 42-27 defeat by the Drua in Fiji.
The Aussies fielded 10 changes to their team but were up against a rested local side fired up by the fans, while also playing in wet, humid conditions in the western Viti Levu town of Ba.
The hosts led 20-12 at half-time and opened up a 20-point lead at one stage before three quick tries added some respectability to the Brumbies scoreline.
The result is the Brumbies first loss to the Drua and leaves them in third place on points differential with the Auckland-based Blues.
HURRICANES VS FORCE
The Wellington-based Hurricanes lead with a spare game in hand after their bye when they defeated the Perth-based Western Force 31-23 in Napier.
The Force led 8-5 at halftime and looked like scoring their first win over a Kiwi team in NZ in 12 years.
But after leading 11-5 up to the 48th minute, former England and Hurricane loose forward Brad Shields crashed over for a try to spark the home town.
They ran in three more tries and the Force were unable to score even a consolation bonus point.
“That first 20 in the second half we got punched in the face a bit. Really great reply in the end but only if there was five more minutes,” Force captain Jeremy Williams said after the game, according to the Super Rugby Pacific website.
The Hurricanes dominated all key statistical areas by game’s end, the website says: they had nearly 60% of possession and territory, dominated the rucks and mauls 98-78, carried 129 times to 96 and forced the Force to make 162 tackles against their own 116 tackles.
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw described the game as a “mixed bag”, especially in the first three-quarters.
Co-captain Jordie Barrett said the Hurricanes “missed the jump” on their game due to their own errors.
“We gave them a little bit of a leg-up with discipline things,” he told the website.
MORE FORCE NEWS: Former Eel Zac Lomax joins Perth side
REDS VS WARATAHS
Queensland rebounded from a round one loss to NSW to run out 26-17 winners in their Saturday clash at Suncorp Stadium.
The scores remained level at 7-7 until the 57th minute when substitute hooker Ioane Moananu scored off a maul for the Waratahs.
Carter Gordon sealed the result with a try less than 10 minutes from the end with a run from halfway.
OTHER GAMES
The Christchurch-based Crusaders returned to their winning ways with a 29-18 win over southern neighbours Highlanders in front of home fans.
The Blues accounted for cross-town rivals Moana Pasifika 43-7 who lost Augustine Pulu to an upgraded red card early in the game.
SIX NATIONS
France claimed the Six Nations trophy with a thrilling 48-46 win over England, Ireland lifted the Triple Crown with a 43-21 win over Scotland and Wales defeated Italy 31-17 to give some much-needed cheer to their fans.
