The Reds moved one point clear of the Chiefs, who were on a bye weekend, when beating the Force 28-24 in Brisbane.
But the shock of the round was the substantial shot in the arm Moana Pasifika gave themselves with a stunning 45-19 win in Christchurch over the Crusaders.
Statistics (from Opta Sports)
Most tries: Carlo Tizzano (Force) 10, Andy Muirhead (Brumbies), Sevu Reece (Crusaders), Filipo Daugunu (Reds), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes), Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders) 6.
Most points: Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) 85, Ben Donaldson (Force) 68, Sam Gilbert (Highlanders) 62.
Most carries: Tupou Ta'eiloa (Moana Pasifika) 92, Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders) 77, Will Jordan (Crusaders), Tom Hooper (Brumbies) 75.
Most clean breaks: Tangitau 13, Reece, Corey Toole (Brumbies) 11.
Most defenders beaten: McKenzie 34, Tavatavanawai 21, Harry Potter (Force) 26.
Most lineouts won: Nick Frost (Brumbies), Darcy Swain (Force), Josh Canham (Reds) 28.
Most metres gained: Tangitau 675, Tom Wright (Brumbies) 548, Jordan 469.
Most offloads: Reece 13, Nathan Hastie (Highlanders) 10, Toole 9.
Most tackles won: Tizzano 108, Nick Champion de Crespigny 102, Tom Robertson (Force) 96.
Hurricanes 57 Waratahs 12
Waratahs halfback Teddy Wilson went through a defensive hole in the Hurricanes goalmouth to slip a pass to first five-eighths Lawson Creighton who scored the game's first try in the fourth minute. It was a false dawn for the visitors in Wellington, as the Hurricanes responded with a backline movement that gave wing Kini Naholo a try three minutes later. Control at another goalmouth ruck saw halfback Cameron Roigard and fullback Ruben Love fire long passes to allow Naholo a second try in the first quarter. Five minutes from the break Naholo's run took play in front of the posts and furious rucking saw hooker Asafo Aumua standing off to take the ball and score. From the restart, neither side controlled the ball and wing Ngatungane Punivai took it and set sail downfield. Lock Isaia Walker-Leawere supported him, took a pass and in the tackle got the ball to Roigard for a stunning try.
Wing Archie Saunders opened the scoring for the visitors in the second half but a penalty try from the Waratahs collapsing a maul saw the Hurricanes out to a 31-12 lead with 30minutes to play. Second five-eighths and captin Joey Walton went to the sin-bin for the transgression and his side paid. Punivai went over off a long Love backhand pass, centre Bailyn Sullivan won the race to a chargedown ball to score and with two minutes left Naholo powered across for a hat-trick – game, set and match to the Hurricanes.
Hurricanes 57 (Kini Naholo 3, Asafo Aumua, Cameron Roigard, Ngatungane Punivai, Brad Shields, Bailyn Sullivan tries; Penalty try; Riley Hohepa 4 con; Ruben Love con) Waratahs 12 (Lawson Creighton, Archie Saunders tries; Creighton con). HT: 24-7
Brumbies 34 Highlanders 27
A probing run out wide by fullback Sam Gilbert saw wings Jona Nareki and Caleb Tangitau make ground for Tangitau to continue his scoring streak with the first try 10 minutes into the contest in Canberra. The Brumbies built on a run infield by wing Corey Toole for hooker Billy Pollard to score after 22 minutes. Prop Allan Alaalatoa burrowed under defenders to score in the 31st minute.
Into the second half, a blindside break by halfback Nathan Hastie saw Tangitau carry the move on before linking inside to the supporting Gilbert, who scored. Then, after 53 minutes, another short side feed by Hastie put Nareki into a gap, and he raced into gaps on a 40m run to claim the lead for the visitors. Toole was given room out wide in the final quarter and ran in a try that reclaimed the lead. Then, from a collapsed five-metre scrum, the Brumbies moved the ball wide, where wing Andy Muirhead scored. With three minutes left, the Brumbies worked the blind and centre Leni Ikitau ran around to ensure the win. However, the Highlanders came back to score on time to claim a bonus point when Hastie fed Tangitau on the blind. He chipped ahead, recovered the bouncing ball and scored.
Brumbies 34 (Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Corey Toole, Andy Muirhead, Len Ikitau tries; Noah Lolesio con, pen; Jack Debreczeny 2 con) Highlanders 27 (Caleb Tangitau 2, Sam Gilbert, Jona Nareki tries; Gilbert 2 con, pen). HT: 15-5
Crusaders 29 Moana Pasifika 45
Moana Pasifika's intent was evident when, in the third minute, they got through a goal-line ruck to see skipper Ardie Savea burrow through for his first try. The Crusaders responded through hooker Ioane Moananu crossing from a driving maul. Savea went over from a ruck after 17 minutes. A penalty goal by first five-eighths James O'Connor got the Crusaders within four points at 10-14, but that was to be as close as they got. Second five-eighths, Danny Toala found a gap and went over in the 25th minute. They went further ahead after wing Tevita Ofa's sideline break broke tackles and had first five-eighths and an increasingly steady hand, Patrick Pellegrini, in support to score for a halftime lead of 21-10.
Pellegrini's penalty goal in the 46th minute increased the height of the mountain the Crusaders had to climb. They knocked off two steps after 50 minutes when wing Macca Springer scored and six minutes later when replacement hooker Codie Taylor tidied from the base of a lineout to burst through for a try. But Moana Pasifika entered the final quarter with flanker Miracle Faiilagi demonstrating his power and class when muscling through the defence for a try, and in the 66th minute, centre Pepesana Patafilo embarrassed the home defence close to a ruck to step through tackles to score. Fullback Will Jordan and wing Chay Fihaki combined on the end of the backline to create a chance for supporting halfback Mitch Drummond to complete the scoring.
Crusaders 29 (Ioane Moananu, Macca Springer, Codie Taylor, Mitch Drummond tries; James O'Connor 2 con, pen; Rivez Reihana con) Moana Pasifika 45 (Ardie Savea 2, Danny Toala, Patrick Pellegrini, Miracle Faiilagi, Pepesana Patafilo tries; Pellegrini 6 con, pen). HT: 10-28
Reds 28 Force 24
Reds centre Filipo Daugunu set scoring in action in the fifth minute when crossing from a ruck on the goalline but, in the seventh minute, Force prop Tom Robertson scored a stunning try after taking a pass from tackled No8 Nick Champion de Crespigny. He had 40 metres to the line and, while tackled, his momentum carried him over for an equalising try. However, within three minutes, fullback Heremaia Murray had the speed on the end of the line to reclaim the lead. It was only brief, as flanker Carlo Tizzano was too strong off a lineout maul and scored. First five-eighths Tom Lynagh ran into claim an overthrown lineout to step his way through defenders before a backhand pass found halfback Kalani Thomas who passed to second five-eighths Dru Pakeho to score. But Tizzano crossed from another lineout maul with eight minutes left until halftime.
The 21-21 halftime score was unchanged until Force five-eighths Ben Donaldson landed a 58th-minute penalty goal. Eight minutes from the end, a massive Reds maul laid on a chance that replacement halfback Tate McDermott took to reclaim the lead, which was added to by Lynagh's successful conversion.
Reds 28 (Filipo Daugunu, Heremaia Murray, Dru Pakeho, Tate McDermott tries; Tom Lynagh 4 con) Force 24 (Tom Robertson, Carlo Tizzano 2 tries; Ben Donaldson 3 con, pen). HT: 21-21