Chiefs scalp Highlanders & Canes roll Rebels with 42 unanswered points

The Chiefs won at home against the Highlanders and the Hurricanes went on a second half roll to score 42 unanswered points to beat the Rebels in Melbourne. Hurricanes winger Ben Lam scored four tries.

The Chiefs won 27-22 as the Highlanders suffered their second successive away defeat and the Rebels lost for the first time at home and also in their first match against New Zealand opposition. The Hurricanes, down 19-8 after 30 minutes, won 50-19. The win means an Australian team has not beaten a New Zealand team in 30-plus successive Super Rugby matches.

The Oracle and Keo Super Rugby Betting Preview 

The Chiefs and Hurricanes wins on the Opta Powered Keo Live Match Centre 

Fast facts on Chiefs v Highlanders

• This was the second successive win for the Chiefs against the Highlanders. Last year The Chiefs ran out to a 24-15 win in their last start against the Highlanders, snapping a six-game losing streak against them in which they had scored 20+ points in a game only once.
• The Chiefs have won seven of their last eight regular season games.
• The Chiefs have led at half-time in each of their last five games at home against New Zealand opposition, going on to win four of those fixtures and pick up a losing bonus point in the fourth.
• The Highlanders have lost their last four away games, the last time they lost more in a row was a four-game drought to round out their 2014 campaign.

Team line-ups for FRIDAY, MARCH 30

Chiefs v Highlanders, Hamilton – 08:35

Chiefs

15 Solomon Alaimalo, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Johnny Faauli, 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Taleni Seu, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Liam Messam, 5 Tyler Ardron, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Nathan Harris, 1 Aidan Ross

Substitutes: 16 Liam Polwart, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Pita Gus Sowakula, 20 Lachlan Boshier, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Charlie Ngatai

Highlanders

15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (co-captain), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown

Substitutes: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Paletasio Tomkinson

Fast facts on Hurricanes v Rebels

• The Hurricanes have won their last six games against the Rebels, winning by an average margin of 32 points per game in that time.
• The Hurricanes have won nine of their last 10 games in Australia, including their last six; it is their longest ever winning streak in the country.

Rebels v Hurricanes, Melbourne – 10:45

Rebels

15 Jack Maddocks, 14 Tom English, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Jack Debreczeni, 9 Will Genia, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Angus Cottrell, 6 Lopeti Timani, 5 Adam Coleman (captain), 4 Matt Philip, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner

Substitutes: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Ben Daley, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Ross Haylett-Petty, 20 Colby Fainga’a, 21 Richard Hardwick, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Sefa Naivalu

Hurricanes

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Sam Henwood, 6 Brad Shields (captain), 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Vaea Fifita, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Chris Eves

Substitutes: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Fraser Armstrong, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Michael Fatialofa, 20 Reed Prinsep, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Ihaia West, 23 Wes Goosen