BRISBANE 10S: Chiefs end Wild Knights' run
After the Knights accounted for the Waratahs and Rebels on Day One, they encountered a determined Chiefs team which demolished the Japanese outfit 33-5.
The game started with a momentum's silence in the stadium to recognize the passing of former Chiefs and All Blacks legend, Sione Lauaki.
The Waratahs bounced from two defeats on Day One to edge the Rebels 14-12.
Another team who overcame a slow start on Day One was the Bulls, who came from behind to beat the Highlanders 26-17.
The Hurricanes demolished Toulon 32-0, the Crusaders edged the Blues 17-12 and the Reds beat Samoa 12-5.
In the quarterfinals the Chiefs take on the Reds, the Crusaders face the Wild Knights, the Bulls tackle the Western Force and the Hurricanes will be up against the Highlanders.
All Day Two's pool action!
Waratahs 14-12 Rebels
The Waratahs have recorded their first win of the tournament in the opening game of Day Two, defeating the Rebels 14-12.
Flyhalf Bryce Hegarty starred for NSW, scoring a try from inside his own half to register first points. Ben Meehan responded immediately for the Rebels in similar fashion.
Harry Jones scored a silky individual try, his second of the tournament, with an impressive chip-and-chase to put NSW up 14-7.
Tom English showed great strength to dot down in the corner to bring the deficit back to two and a chip kick from Meehan almost paid dividends right on full time but he lost the ball over the line after being ankle-tapped by Hegarty – the desperate defensive lunge saving victory in the face of defeat.
Chiefs 33-5 Wild Knights
The Chiefs have moved through to the quarterfinals after beating Day One surprise packets, Wild Knights, 33-5.
Game Two started with a momentum's silence in the stadium to recognize the passing of former Chiefs and All Blacks legend, Sione Lauaki.
The emotional opening fuelled the Chiefs' performance, running in three tries to take a 21-0 lead at half time.
The Kiwi dominance continued after the break with two more tries, Tim Nani-Williams proving to be a master with ball in hand, bamboozling the Wild Knights defence and setting up attacking raids for the Chiefs. managed to get on the board with the last play of the game but it was too little, too late.
Bulls 26-17 Highlanders
The result meant the Bulls had knocked the Brumbies out of the play-offs.
In a cruel twist of fate, the Brumbies have fallen one point short on point differential after each team in Pool C finished with two wins and a loss. As a result, the Force and the Reds are the only two Australians teams through to the quarters.
Jason Emery and Gareth Evans scored tries to give the Highlanders a 10-0 lead.
Tian Schoeman got the Bulls on board, Matt Faddes extended the Highlanders' lead to 17-5 – which was also the score at half-time.
In the second half the Bulls ran ragged – tries by Warrick Gelant, JT Jackson and Piet Van Zyl giving them the victory.
Hurricanes 32-0 Toulon
The Hurricanes have added to Toulon's considerable woes with a 32-0 belting in the French side's final game.
James O'Connor was absent once again as Toulon managed just one try for the entire tournament.
The six try romp ensures the Hurricanes will play finals football.
Their crisp handling and impressive athleticism with ball in hand has them earmarked as one of the teams to beat going into the quarterfinals.
Crusaders 17-12 Blues
The Reds are the first Australian team through to the quarterfinals after the Crusaders completed a clean sweep of their pool with a 17-12 win.
The Christchurch side jumped out to a 17-0 lead but Blues tries to Ambrose Curtis and Pasqualle Dunn had the home fans worried Queensland may miss out.
The Crusaders held up their end of the bargain, though, meaning they will progress alongside the Reds.
Reds 12-5 Samoa
Karmichael Hunt has starred for the Reds as they kept their finals hopes alive with a win against Samoa.
After defending for a couple of minutes in their own 22 to start the match, the Reds scored first when Hunt put Eto Nabuli through a hole.
The flying Fijian drew a defender and dished a clean pass to Moses Sorovi who scored under the posts.
The home side took a 7-0 lead into the break but the Samoans came out firing, Tila Mealoi putting the finishing touch on a movement in which nearly every player on the field touched the ball en route to a try.
With three minutes to play, Hunt showed some super footwork to draw two defenders and put Andrew Ready over for the match winner.
POOLS:
POOL A: Chiefs, Rebels, Waratahs, Wild Knights
POOL B: Blues, Crusaders, Reds, Samoa
POOL C: Bulls, Brumbies, Highlanders
POOL D: Hurricanes, Toulon, Force
All 14 squads:
BRUMBIES: Henry Speight, Tevita Kuridrani, Kyle Godwin, Tomas Cubelli, Tom Banks, Scott Sio, Nic Jooste, Joe Powell, Andrew Smith, Lausii Taliauli, Aidan Toua, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Robbie Abel, Allan Alaalatoa, Chris Alcock, Jarrad Butler, Tom Staniforth, Blake Enever, Saia Fainga'a, Lolo Fakaosilea, Ben Hyne, Les Leulua'iali'i-Makin, Nic Mayhew, Jordan Smiler, Stephen Larkham (wildcard), Andrew Walker (wildcard)
WARATAHS: Israel Folau, Tolu Latu, Tom Robertson, Taqele Naiyaravoro, Paddy Ryan, Hugh Roach, Damien Fitzpatrick, Ned Hanigan, Ryan McCauley, Michael Wells, Rory O'Connor, Pat McCutcheon, Brad Wilkin, Jamason Schultz, Matt Lucas, Jake Gordon, Mack Mason, Bryce Hegarty, David Horwitz, Andrew Deegan, Con Foley, Andrew Kellaway, Cam Clark, Harry Jones, Reece Robinson, Lote Tuqiri (wildcard)
REDS: James Tuttle, Moses Sorovi, Jake McIntyre, Duncan Paia'aua, Henry Taefu, Samu Kerevi, Eto Nabuli, Lachlan Maranta, Chris Kuridrani, Brad Lacey, Karmichael Hunt, Jayden Ngamanu, James Slipper, Taniela Tupou, Sef Fa'agase, Sam Talakai, Alex Mafi, Andrew Ready, Rob Simmons, Cadeym Neville, Lukhan Tui, Izack Rodda, Michael Gunn, Adam Korcyk, Leroy Houston, Chris Latham (wildcard)
REBELS: Cruze Ah-Nau, Steve Cummins, Jack Debreczeni, Murray Douglas, Tom English, Colby Fainga'a, Jackson Garden-Bachop, James Hanson, Reece Hodge, Mitch Inman, Marika Koroibete, Pat Leafa, Tyrel Lomax, Jack Maddocks, Amanaki Mafi, Ben Meehan, Sefa Naivalu, Jordy Reid, Culum Retallick, Toby Smith, Nic Stirzaker, Lopeti Timani, Sione Tuipulotu, Ben Volavola, Laurie Weeks, Morgan Turinui (wildcard)
FORCE: Curtis Rona, Luke Morahan, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Hodgson, Richard Arnold, Marcel Brache, Robbie Coleman, Mees Erasmus, Peter Grant, Richard Hardwick, Ross Haylett-Petty, Onehunga Kaufusi, Kane Koteka, Ryan Louwrens, Semisi Masiwera, Isireli Naisarani, Alex Newsome, Chance Ataera, Matthew Philip, Ian Prior, Anaru Rangi, Michael Ruru, Brynard Stander, Heath Tessmann, James Verity-Amm, Shambeckler Vui
BLUES: Josh Goodhue, Hapakuki Moala-Liava'a, Tom Robinson, Sam Prattley, Kara Pryor, Marcel Renata, Brandon Nansen, Joe Royal, Scott Scrafton, Murphy Taramai, Ambrose Curtis, Matt Duffie, Pasqualle Dunn, Billy Guyton, George Moala, Sam Nock, Declan O'Donnell, Stephen Perofeta, Rene Ranger, Jordan Trainor, Matt Vaega
CRUSADERS: Tim Perry, Mike Alaalatoa, Oliver Jager, Quinten Strange, Chiris Gawler, Mitchell Dunshea, Peter Samu, Jed Brown, Leon Fukofuka, Marty McKenzie, Bryn Hall, Tim Bateman, David Havilli, Jack Goodhue, George Bridge, Andrew Makalio, Seta Tamanivalu, Ben Funnell, Whetu Douglas, Mitchell Hunt, Digby Ioane, Sione Fifita, Manasa Mataele, Sean Wainui, Jordan Taufua
HIGHLANDERS: Aki Seiuli, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Liam Coltman, Josh Dickson, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, James Lentjes, Craig Millar, Dillon Hunt, Gareth Evans, Luke Whitelock, Kayne Hammington, Josh Renton, Fletcher Smith, Tei Walden, Rob Thompson, Jason Emery, Tevita Li, Matt Faddes, Sio Tomkinson, Marty Banks
CHIEFS: Liam Messam, Hikawera Elliott, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Liam Polwart, Atu Moli, Sam Caird, Findlamor Hoeata, Brad Weber, Joseva Ravouvou, Findlay Christie, Tim Nanai-Williams, Sheldon Tovio, Sevu Reece, Jonathan Taumateine, Shaun Stevenson, Solomon Alaimalo, Alex Nankivell, Dwayne Sweeney, Sosefo Kautai, Taleni Seu, Mitchell Brown, Luteru Laulala, Latu Vaeno, Luke Jacobson, Lachlan Boshier, Mitchell Graham
HURRICANES: Nehe Milner-Skudder, Cory Jane, Reg Goodes, Loni Uhila, Ricky Riccitelli, Asafo Aumua, Chris Eves, Mike Kainga, Joe Apikotoa, Vaea Fifita, Mark Abbott, James Blackwell, Brad Shields, Reed Prinsep, Toa Halafihi, Hugh Renton, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Kemera Hauiti-Parapara, Otere Black, Vince Aso, Matt Proctor, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Jonah Lowe, Jordie Barrett
TOULON: Drew Mitchell, James O'Connor, Alesana Tuilagi, Josua Tuisova, Ayumu Goromaru, Axel Muller, Jimmy Yobo, Anthony Belleau, Geoffrey Cazanave, Teiva Jacquelain, Swan Rebbadj, Emerick Setiano, Bastien Soury, Thomas Vernet, George Stokes, Aidon Davis, Gregory Annetta, Rudy Gahetau
WILD KNIGHTS: Asaeli Ai Valu, Atsushi Sakate, Naoki Kawamata, Kotaro Yatabe, Daniel Heenan, Masaki Tani, Ryota Hasegawa, Yoichi Iijima, Yuta Takagi, Taiki Koyama, Ben Gunter, Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Jack Cornelsen, Emerson Tamura, Takuya Yamasawa, Berrick Barnes, Rikiya Matsuda, Akihito Yamada, Yasuki Hayashi, Yuga Hyakutake, Keisuke Moriya, Tomoki Kitagawa, Iori Kaji, Yoshikazu Fujita, Kentaro Kodama, Tadahiro Miwa
BULLS: Francolis Brummer, Dries Swanepoel, Tian Schoeman, Cornelius Els, Edgar Marutlulle, Renaldo Bothma, Ruben Van Heerden, Ruan Steenkamp, Rudy Paige, Shaun Adendorff, Travis Ismaiel, Jacques Potgieter, Hanro Liebenberg, Ivan Van Zyl, Conrad Van Vuuren, Jade Stighling, Jamba Ulengo, John Kotze, JT Jackson, John-Roy Jenkinson, Lizo Gqoboka, Luther Obi, Burger Odendaal, Nicholas De Jager, Piet Van Zyl, Warrick Gelant
SAMOA: Census Johnston, Tietie Tuimauga, Ausetalia Vaiomanu, Jarred Adams, Bronson Fotualii Tauakipulu, Ripine Fualau, Oneone Faafou, Faalemiga Selesele, Mikaele Tapili, Liahona Vaegaau, Jeff Lepa, Greg Foe, Lucky Schuster Palamo, Danny Tusitala, Dangelo Leuila, Patrick Faapale, Opetera Peleseuma, Faafou Amate, Meki Magele, Tila Mealoi, Johnny Samuelu, Faletoa Moli, Samoa Toloa
Photo credit: Meggie Whitchurch
