Chiefs enhance title credentials by beating Crusaders

WELLINGTON: Coach Warren Gatland’s early season confidence in his Waikato Chiefs side after victory over the defending champions the Canterbury Crusaders has led him to resting three key players for next week’s clash with the Sunwolves in Tokyo.

The Chiefs produced another secondhalf fightback to beat the 10times champion Crusaders 2515 in the second week of Super Rugby to highlight their own title credentials.

The Hamiltonbased outfit had been tipped preseason to be the closest New Zealand challenger to the Crusaders and proved it by weathering a firsthalf onslaught from Scott Robertson’s side before slowly overtaking the visitors.

Gatland has decided to leave captain Sam Cane, centre Anton LienertBrown and first fiveeighth Aaron Cruden in New Zealand for their clash with the Sunwolves in order to prepare for the week four clash with the ACT Brumbies at home.

‘‘It’s important at the start of the season; we need to rotate the squad,’’ Gatland told reporters in Hamilton.

‘‘We need to be giving players in the squad some game time, and making sure that we are prepared for towards the end of the season if we do pick up other injuries.’’

The Sharks, who mauled the Highlanders 4220 under the roof in Dunedin on Friday, and Stormers highlighted their own title credentials in what is shaping as a competitive South African conference.

The Stormers, who beat the Hurricanes 270 last week, kept their opposition scoreless for the second successive week with a defencedominated 130 victory over the Bulls in Cape Town.

A muchimproved Hurricanes side, however, went the length of the field with a little over two minutes remaining to set up a matchwinning try to replacement halfback Jamie Booth as they beat the Jaguares 2623 in Buenos Aires.

The Brumbies were the only Australian side to record a win, with their 3926 victory over the Melbourne Rebels in Canberra on Friday cementing their preseason favouritism for the Australian title.

‘‘It’s a good start and ... we’ve just got to keep building momentum,’’ Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said.

The illdisciplined Queensland Reds were beaten 2720 by the Lions in Johannesburg.

While the New South Wales Waratahs were dismal in their 3220 loss to the Auckland Blues, they received some good news as winger Mark Nawaqanitawase was cleared of serious injury after he landed awkwardly on his neck when scoring a try.

‘‘He got a bit of a fright but he’s walking and talking and being his jovial self in the change room,’’ coach Rob Penney told reporters on Saturday.