Saturday 29 February 2020 21:21, UK
The Hurricanes ran in 10 tries to demolish the Sunwolves, while the Sharks edged the Reds in Brisbane.
Winger Kobus van Wyk scored three tries on debut and full-back Chase Tiatia scored two on Saturday as the Hurricanes pummelled Japan's Sunwolves 62-15 in Super Rugby.
After conceding the first try of the match after only four minutes, the Hurricanes ran in 10 tries and a bonus-point win.
The Hurricanes improved their record to 3-1 for the season, moving into second place in the New Zealand conference as the fifth round progresses.
The Sunwolves, now 1-4, were beaten 64-5 by the Reds last weekend and face difficult matches against the Brumbies and defending champion Crusaders over the next two weeks.
The Hurricanes looked a little bit rusty at first Saturday, coming off a bye and they allowed the Sunwolves to score first through lock Michael Stolberg. The Sunwolves still led, 10-7, after 19 minutes.
But Tiatia scored twice and Van Wyk once before halftime when the Hurricanes led 28-10. The second half was mostly one-way traffic as flanker Vaea Fifita, centers Vince Aso and Ngnai Laumape and winger Ben Lam were able to run freely and create tries from all parts of the field.
The game opened up in the second half as the Hurricanes piled on 34 points. Wan Wyk had his hat trick after 56 minutes and Laumape and Aso both scored to reward their earlier playmaking efforts.
The Sharks exploited the Reds shaky lineout and weak scrum to beat the home side 33-23 at Brisbane.
The home side missed two conversions, had two tries disallowed and continuously gave the ball away in a dominant first half spoiled by ongoing set-piece issues.
Trailing by five points with 10 minutes left in the match, Queensland pushed forward again only for Sharks captain Lukhanyo Am to pick off Hunter Paisami's short pass and run 60 meters for a try. Madosh Tambwe sealed it with another long-range try.
It was the South African side's third win to close their four-game tour of Australia and New Zealand, and a costly loss for the Reds (1-4) after wins to conference rivals Rebels and the Waratahs earlier in the round.
Sharks fly-half Curwin Bosch kicked two penalties from close to 50 meters out and within 10 meters of the sideline.
The Blues stunned the Stormers 33-14 on Saturday to end the last unbeaten start this season in Super Rugby.
The Auckland-based Blues raced to a 20-0 lead midway through the first half in Cape Town and led 27-14 at halftime through a double by English winger Joe Marchant and one try by flanker Dalton Papali'i.
Fly-half Otere Black kicked two second-half penalties to complete an 18-point game from him and the Stormers were outplayed comprehensively for their first loss in five games at the start of the season.
The Stormers, who have never won the Super Rugby title, still lead the overall standings but the Sharks are now just a point behind, the Jaguares two behind, and defending champion Crusaders three points behind. The Crusaders have also played a game less.
The Stormers were matched up front for the first time this year the Blues even had scrum dominance at times and that set the tone for the surprise.
No 8 Juarno Augustus and wing Sergeal Petersen threatened a comeback for the Stormers late in the first half with their tries to close it to 20-14. Marchant sped in for his second before the end of the half and the incisive Blues pulled away again.
