THE Chiefs scored five tries to dismantle the Crusaders and the Stormers ground out victory against the Lions, as both stayed unbeaten after three rounds of Super Rugby.
The Bulls shrugged off a sluggish start to the season to edge the Sharks 43-35. The ACT Brumbies did enough for a20-15 win over Melbourne Rebels.
The Chiefs gave notice of their title credentialsby beating the Crusaders 40-16, recording their highest score against the record seven-time champions.
The Stormers led for the first time at the Lions only in the 77th minute, when replacement forward Siya Kolisi drove over at the back of a rolling maul to settle the South African derby and keep the Cape Town-based Stormers in the top three.
But there was more drama: Howard Mnisi dropped the ball when over the tryline for the Lions four minutes after the hooter sounded as the home team launched a final assault of more than 20 phases. The Stormers just held on. Only the Lions and Blues are winless.
The Crusaders were without injured Dan Carter and Israel Dagg and the suspended Owen Franks. Sonny Bill Williams was among the Chiefs' try-scorers while All Black Aaron Cruden kicked three penalties and three conversions for 15 points.
ACT Brumbies outlasted the Rebels and stayed third in the standings behind New Zealand's Wellington-based the Hurricanes and the Stormers. - Scores:
Chiefs 40 (James Lowe, Tom Marshall, Charlie Ngatai, Augustine Pulu, Sonny Bill Williams tries; Aaron Cruden 3 conversions, 3 penalties), Crusaders 16 (Andrew Ellis try; Colin Slade conversion, 3 penalties). HT: 22-9.
