12 Feb 2017

Strong start for Crusaders & Highlanders

10:55 am on 12 February 2017

The Crusaders and the Highlanders are the only New Zealand Super Rugby teams to make it through the opening day of the inaugural Brisbane Tens unbeaten.

Crusaders new recruit Digby Ioane.

Crusaders new recruit Digby Ioane. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Scott Robertson's Crusaders side showed positive signs for what may be to come this season, beating Samoa in their opening match 12-7 and backing it up with a clinical performance against the Queensland Reds, winning 28-0.

Their southern neighbours also started strongly, beating the ACT Brumbies 14-7 before beating the Hurricanes in a tight contest 13-5.

The Chiefs kicked the tournament off against the Melbourne Rebels, going down 19-5.

The Waikato-based franchise produced a better performance in their second match, dispatching the NSW Waratahs 26-24.

The 2016 Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes got off to a better start than the Chiefs, beating the Brumbies 14-7 but then lost their match to the Highlanders.

It wasn't the greatest of starts for the Blues, they drew their first match against the Reds before losing to Samoa 27-14.

Japan's Panasonic Wild Knights had a successful day at the office, beating the Waratahs and the Rebels to book themselves a spot in the quarter finals.

-RNZ