Two of the games, the Highlanders' win over the Blues and the Force's win away over the Brumbies, were achieved by both winning sides despite being reduced to 13 men in the final quarter.
The Chiefs continued their claims of competition favouritism by beating the Crusaders. The Reds, who had the first-round bye, opened their campaign with a win over Moana Pasifika.
Chiefs 49 Crusaders 24
Any hopes the Crusaders may have had of repeating their first-round win were undone when the Chiefs, who had been out in front for most of the game, scored two tries in three minutes heading into the final half-hour in Hamilton. Wing Leroy Carter used his speed to score a classic wing's try, and then, with a five-man overlap, it was flanker Samipeni Finau who scored the second. The Crusaders closed the game down for 10 or more minutes, but then the Chiefs cut loose with first five-eighths Josh Jacomb crossing before Quinn Tupaea scored twice in his 50th game, the first after a lovely break by flanker Simon Parker, who stood up after captain Luke Jacobson was forced to leave the field early in the game with a broken nose.
The Chiefs' concentration on developing their scrum during the off-season paid off, as they took three scrums from the Crusaders. But, the statistics showed that for all their slight possession advantage, the Crusaders should have been able to do much better. They made fewer tackles, 146-155, and while missing five more than the Chiefs, they conceded only more turnover than the home team. The Crusaders won 104 rucks to 87. But, the cohesion and better quality of their ball allowed the Chiefs to sweep home for their first bonus point win of the season.
Chiefs 49 (Quinn Tupaea 2, Emoni Narawa, Xavier Roe, Leroy Carter, Samipeni Finau, Josh Jacomb tries; Damian McKenzie 4 con, 2 pen) Crusaders 24 (Kyle Preston, Ethan Blackadder, Antonio Shalfoon tries; Chay Fihaki con; Taha Kemara con; James O'Connor con, pen). HT: 17-14
Reds 56 Moana Pasifika 36
With 30 minutes to play and having clawed within six points of the Reds after being 0-21 down, Moana Pasifika conceded two tries in three minutes in Brisbane, and the home team pounced. When they assess the game figures, Moana Pasifika will realise they had enough possession to finish the job. They gained more metres (626-538), made more carries (170-93), beat more defenders (15-13), made more passes (205-122) and only had to make 86 tackles to 206 by the Reds. They won 125 rucks to 52 and had the better of scrums and lineouts. And the Reds also conceded three yellow cards. Yet it was the Reds who scored eight tries to five.
But when Moana Pasifika got their continuity right, they unleashed their wings, Solomon Alaimalo and Kyren Taumoefolau, and their three tries, two of them to Taumoefolau, were spectacular team affairs. However, the Reds showed their ability to move the ball from deep on the counterattack, and their speed on the uptake marked the difference.
Reds 56 (Seru Uru, Filipo Daugunu, Tim Ryan, Matt Faessler, Angus Blyth, Ryan Smith, Fraser McReight, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips tries; Tom Lynagh 7 con; McLaughlin-Phillips con) Moana Pasifika 36 (Ardie Savea, Solomon Alaimalo, Kyren Taumoefolau 2, Allan Craig tries; William Havili 4 con, pen). HT: 21-8
Hurricanes 38 Fijian Drua 34
Relishing perfect conditions in Napier, both sides contributed to a thrilling encounter that saw the first try scored by home flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi after 38 seconds and the last with three minutes left by first five-eighths Harry Godfrey. His try capped an outstanding game by the Hurricanes' inside-back pair of halfback Cameron Roigard and Godfrey. Roigard scored a try and contributed to at least two others in a polished display. But the Drua were significant contributors to the entertainment with some memorable running and passing, never better than when lock Isoa Nasilasila's speed carried him to the line at the end of an 80m movement that took the Drua to a 27-19 lead.
However, the Hurricanes dug deep and scored three final-quarter tries to claim the win. The Drua enjoyed 58 percent of possession. They claimed five Hurricanes lineout throws and won 109 rucks to 74. However, missing 33 tackles to 17, conceding 18 turnovers to 13, and being unable to maximise opportunities when the Hurricanes gave up two yellow cards proved costly.
Hurricanes 38 (Du'Plessis Kirifi, Braydon Iose, Fehi Fineanganofo, Cameron Roigard, Bailyn Sullivan, Harry Godfrey tries; Godfrey 4 con) Drua 34 (Junior Ratuva, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Frank Lomani, Isoa Nasilsila, Elia Canakaivata tries; Armstrong-Ravula 3 con, pen). HT: 19-22
Highlanders 29 Blues 21
A flyweight in modern rugby, Highlanders fullback Finn Hurley punched like a super-heavyweight to score two tries to show that there's still a place for little men with speed, skill and subtlety in rugby. When that is complemented by a leader and second five-eighths of the quality of Timoci Tavatavanawai, whose turnover rate at the breakdown would challenge the best loose forwards, and a forward pack that refused to concede ground when reduced to six for 20 vital minutes in the final quarter, you have a compelling side who fully deserved their win over the defending champion Blues in Dunedin.
Perhaps the Blues started too well by scoring through the power of their pack three minutes into the game and then through the skill of their backs in the 23rd minute. But that was the end of their dominance. The home side utilised every opportunity, often courtesy of aimless Blues kicking, and got within a point by halftime. With prop Daniel Lienert-Brown red-carded and injuries forcing uncontested scrums, the Highlanders lifted their game to defy the vastly more experienced and powered Blues side any advantage. The stats don't lie in this game. The Highlanders gained 486 metres to 343, made 125 carries to 106, beat 22 defenders to 13 and made seven clean breaks to three. The Blues had to make 149 tackles to 116.
Highlanders 29 (Finn Hurley 2, Sam Gilbert tries; Gilbert con, 4 pen) Blues 21 (Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Ricky Riccitelli tries: Barrett 3 con). HT: 13-14
Brumbies 42 Force 45
Travelling to Canberra, the Force made light of playing away from home by scoring 21 points within the first 19 minutes, with only wing Harry Potter's intercept in the opportunist category. Wing Dylan Pietsch's effort to take a Ben Donaldson kick to the corner was cleanly executed to reflect the Force's dominance. It took some individual class from fullback Tom Wright to give wing Andy Muirhead a run to the line for the first home response. It was only momentary respite as flanker Carlo Tizzano scored from a goalline maul soon after. Brumbies five-eighths Declan Meredith scored for the halftime score of 14-28.
Two tries in six minutes, to No8 Charlie Cale and Judah Saumaisue, at the start of the second half got the Brumbies back in the contest. But a clever inside pass off a maul saw Pietsch reclaim the lead before Cale took it back with his second. Five minutes from the end, Brandon Paenga-Amosa's try under the posts, while reduced to 13 players, claimed the first Force win in Canberra for 14 years. The Brumbies gained 644 metres to 372, beat 33 defenders to 18, made 11 clean breaks to five, threw 100 more passes and made only 121 tackles compared to the Force's 249, 33 of them missed to 18, yet still couldn't take advantage of their 56 percent possession
Brumbies 42 (Andy Muirhead, Declan Meredith, Charlie Cale 2, Judah Saumaisue, Corey Toole tries; Ryan Lonergan 6 con) Force 45 (Nic Dolly, Harry Potter, Dylan Pietsch 2, Carlo Tizzano, Brandon Paenga-Amosa tries; Ben Donaldson 6 con, pen). HT: 14-28