Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has declared the 2018 Super Rugby title race wide open after watching his side become the first New Zealand team in two years to fall to Australian opposition.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger and captain Ben Smith. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The NSW Waratahs' 41-12 dispatch of a 14-man Highlanders outfit not only snapped New Zealand's 40-match winning streak over their trans-Tasman rivals, but also breathed fresh life in a competition dominated by the Kiwi heavyweights.
Mauger hailed the Waratahs the real deal after Australia's conference leaders put the Highlanders to the sword in a six-try rout following the 18th-minute dismissal of winger Tevita Nabura.
"The Waratahs were outstanding. They were going to put us under pressure even if we'd had 15 men on the field," Mauger said.
A 26-23 victory for the bottom-placed Sunwolves over the Stormers in Hong Kong - the cellar dwellers' second straight win - and the Queensland Reds' thrilling 38-34 loss to the high-flying Hurricanes in Wellington have added an exciting sense of uncertainty five rounds out from the finals.
"It's probably the most even competition we've had for a while," Mauger said.
"The competition has evened out a bit."
With the Melbourne Rebels having the weekend off, the Waratahs' big bonus-point triumph extended their lead atop the Australian conference to six points ahead of Saturday's clash with the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Coach Daryl Gibson said the Waratahs could cross the Tasman with renewed confidence - and without trepidation following last week's 31-29 loss to the defending champion Crusaders in Christchurch.
"They can go over there and they know if we play with our ability, it's going to be a cracking game," he said.
Gibson believes the 2014 champions are peaking for another unlikely title push now that they've buried their demons against their New Zealand nemeses.
"We're improving. You can clearly see that," he said.
"There's still a lot in us in terms of getting things right. We're carrying some really good lessons.
"We learnt a number last week. This week, we're starting to really get to it. I think our game leaders and our game managers are maturing.
"Then we've got a nice mix between experience and youth and we saw that off the bench (against the Highlanders)."
The Crusaders retained the outright competition lead with a 32-24 defeat of the Blues in Auckland ahead of a mouth-watering top-of-the-table showdown with the Hurricanes in Christchurch on Friday night.
The Lions continue to head the South African conference but the Jaguares are fast emerging as finals dark horses after mauling the Bulls 52-24 in Buenos Aires for a fifth-straight success.
-AAP
