Super Rugby Round 5

Crusaders continue to prosper without Dan Carter

The Crusaders continued to adjust well to life after Dan Carter as Ryan Crotty's hat-trick gave them a thrilling 43-37 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

Despite losing All Blacks legend Carter to Racing Metro in France's Top 14 this season, the Crusaders have now won four from five in this year's Super Rugby competition.

Besides Crotty, who opened the scoring in the first minute, the Crusaders' five tries came from Johnny McNicholl and Wyatt Crockett. The Lions crossed four times through Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies and Armand van der Merwe twice.

Ihaia West scores 19 points for the Blues against the Jaguares

Ihaia West scored 19 points as the Blues recorded their second victory of the Super Rugby season by beating the Jaguares 24-16.

West crossed for a try and kicked a conversion and four penalties as the Auckland-based hosts ended a three-game winless streak.

Steven Luatua also touched down for the Blues, who led 15-6 at the break.

Gonzalo Bertranou scored the Jaguares' only try, with Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias kicking three penalties and Nicolas Sanchez a conversion for the Argentinians.

Chiefs assert authority over Brumbies in Canberra

The Chiefs ran in six tries to thump the Brumbies 48-23 in their Super Rugby clash in Canberra.

The visitors' tries came courtesy of James Lowe, who crossed twice, Toni Pulu, Tom Sanders, Brad Weber and Damian McKenzie, who also kicked four penalties and three conversions for a personal haul of 23 points.

The Brumbies touched down twice through Scott Sio and Scott Fardy, while Christian Lealiifano kicked 13 points.

Southern Kings edge past Sunwolves

The Southern Kings broke their 2016 Super Rugby duck with a 33-28 win over the winless Sunwolves in Port Elizabeth.

The hosts, who led 23-20 at half-time in difficult windy conditions, scored tries through Steven Sykes, Malcom Jaer, Shane Gates and Elgar Watts. Louis Fouche kicked three penalties and two conversions.

The Japanese outfit also crossed four times, courtesy of Shota Horie, Tusi Pisi, who landed two penalties and a conversion, Tim Bond and Akihito Yamada.

Bulls hold off Cheetahs

The Bulls secured a 23-18 win over the Cheetahs after tries from RG Snyman, Jason Jenkins and Jamba Ulengo.

The Cheetahs, who replied through tries from Sergeal Petersen and Torsten van Jaarsveld, could have won what was both a competitive and scrappy affair, particularly after their hosts failed to convert their early dominance.

However, it was the Bulls who held on to run out victors in the end, with Tian Schoeman adding two penalties to help seal the win.

Melbourne Rebels record historic victory in Sydney

The Melbourne Rebels beat NSW Waratahs in Sydney for the first time with a hard-earned 21-17 win in a Super Rugby victory built on first-half domination.

After a strong first half showing, the Rebels led 21-3 at half-time following tries from Jack Debreczeni and Toby Smith but had to survive a sustained fightback after the break as the Waratahs touched down through Jack Dempsey and Matt Carraro.

Debreczeni kicked a conversion and three penalties for the Rebels, whilst Bernard Foley slotted two conversions and a penalty for the Waratahs.