Rugby: Highlanders top NZ teams

Ben Smith of the Highlanders runs the ball against the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

Only the Highlanders remain unbeaten of the New Zealand teams in rugby's revamped Super 15 after the Blues faded in Durban today as the Sharks shut them out 26-12.

The Blues' hunt for a first win in Durban since 2004 ended in disappointment as they were forced to play catch-up rugby in hot and humid conditions after trailing 9-16 at halftime.

Hampered by handling woes and a misfiring lineout, the Blues were unable to build concerted pressure, and a resolute Sharks defence kept their dangerous backs tryless.

Twenty-year-old first five-eighth Patrick Lambie, capped by South Africa on their Northern Hemisphere tour last year, scored 21 points and ensured the Sharks recorded their seventh successive win over the Blues.

Blues skipper Keven Mealamu said his side were guilty of making too many errors.

"(There was) a lot of effort today, but the execution was off. You make that many mistakes against a side like this and they're going to punish you and that's exactly what happened today," he said.

The Highlanders top the New Zealand conference, four points ahead of the Blues, after they battled back from a seven point halftime deficit to beat the Chiefs 23-13 in Dunedin on Friday.

The Highlanders' forwards laid the base for the win with an authoritative performance, backed up by some gritty defence and incisive running from the backs when it counted.

It was the first time the Highlanders had beaten the Chiefs in eight years, and they never panicked despite trailing 6-13 at the break after gifting the visitors a huge territorial advantage in the first 40 minutes.

Second-half tries to Nasi Manu and Kade Poki, and some accurate work from Robbie Robinson with the boot, secured the win.

The Crusaders and Hurricanes are third and fourth on the New Zealand conference table after sharing points from their earthquake-cancelled fixture. The winless Chiefs are fifth without a point.

The Waratahs lead the Australian conference and top the overall standings after two rounds, boosted by a comprehensive 30-6 victory over the Reds in Sydney last night.

Led by destructive hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, the Waratahs dominated field position from the outset in front of a 33,846-strong crowd, and have yet to concede a try in two matches.

Ahead 16-6 at halftime, the Waratahs restricted the Reds' scoring to just two Quade Cooper penalties as they scored four tries to secure only their second bonus point over Queensland since 2003.

The Brumbies lie second in the Australian conference, despite losing their match against the Rebels in Melbourne in the last minute.

First five-eighth Danny Cipriani nailed the kick to give the Rebels a 25-24 victory, making their embarrassing opening round 43-0 loss to the Waratahs a distant memory.

Trailing 9-16 at the break, the Rebels battled back and hit the front 22-19 when captain Stirling Mortlock crossed in the 72nd minute for the franchise's first Super 15 try.

Brumbies winger Henry Speight's 75th minute try looked to have secured the match before Cipriani stepped up to land the matchwinning penalty.

The Western Force, on a bye this weekend, are the third Australian team on five points, with the Reds and Rebels four and fifth respectively.

The Bulls top the South African conference, unbeaten after two rounds, after Fourie du Preez nabbed a late try to secure a 25-23 win over the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein yesterday.

Down 8-11 at halftime, the Bulls looked to have mistimed their finish and trailed 8-23 before tries to Danie Rossouw and du Preez, coupled with Morne Steyn's accurate boot, saw them home.

The Sharks are second on the South African table, with two wins from as many starts, while the Stormers - who picked up a 19-16 win over the Lions in Cape Town today - are third.

- NZPA