Prop James Slipper marked his 200th appearance in the competition with a try, while Charlie Cale scored twice and hooker Liam Bowron sealed the deal with a late try to extinguish any hopes of a Crusaders comeback.
Rob Valetini’s try in the final minutes, along with a breakaway by Corey Toole, secured a bonus point for Stephen Larkham’s squad, propelling them to the top of the standings alongside the Waratahs with 10 points from two rounds.
“We came here with a determination to secure a positive outcome, and the team truly rose to the occasion,” said Slipper. “It’s a special moment for all of us, especially considering the history of Aussie teams struggling to win here.”
Joining forces with their Australian counterparts, the Waratahs claimed a second consecutive victory with a 36-13 win over the Fijian Drua, led by winger Max Jorgensen’s brace of tries.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs clinched their second win of the season with a 26-23 triumph over the Highlanders, highlighted by a sensational try from Leroy Carter after a clever play by Quinn Tupaea.
On the other hand, the Blues celebrated their first triumph of the season with a 42-32 win over the Western Force, powered by fly-half Stephen Perofeta’s impressive 17-point contribution.
The Hurricanes kicked off their season with a resounding 52-10 victory over Moana Pasifika, with winger Josh Moorby bagging a hat-trick of tries and Fehi Fineanganofo and Brayden Iose also crossing the try line twice.
“Despite a tough start, we managed to bounce back and deliver a solid performance,” said Hurricanes center Jordie Barrett. “We know there’s always room for improvement, especially in the early stages of the season.”
