Welcome back to Super Rugby Download, where we bring you all the highlights, lowlights and hilarity from both the AU and Aotearoa competitions.
This week history was made, new stars emerged, post-match interviews got very interesting and none other than Adele snuck into one very happy changing room.
What exactly is going on here? Let's keep this maul rolling.
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SUPER RUGBY AU
Force 20, Waratahs 16
A lot of hype surrounded the Force during the off-season for bringing in talent from all over the globe.
This weekend, they pulled out the big guns – enlisting help in the unlikely form of pop superstar Adele.
After creating history by winning their first ever Super Rugby AU match, the team were filmed celebrating in the sheds afterwards, belting out the British songstress' hit Someone Like You in full voice – complete with pre-prepared song lyric sheets.
READ MORE: Waratahs coach's testy post-match interview
READ MORE: Force pile more misery on wounded Waratahs
READ MORE: Highlanders star shreds Chiefs with magic feet
So, make no mistake, this was not an off-the-cuff performance – the Force were ready to break it out at just the right moment and this was it.
During the match, it was a couple of the Force's big men that stole the show, with former Aussie sevens star Tim Anstee scoring a try and setting up another with an incisive break.
That try was scored by man of the match Fergus Lee-Warner, who also got through a power of work with ball in hand, while adding 19 tackles on defence.
The Force have promised there's more songs to come – subject to getting more wins – so stay tuned.
On the flipside, the Waratahs put in a valiant performance for their under-fire head coach Rob Penney. Bouncing back from a horrendous 51-point hiding the previous week, the Tahs shot out to a 13-point lead early, before things started to become a little unstuck.
Despite falling short in the end, they did show plenty of fight, including coach Penney who praised his team for "showing a lot of courage" and promised to "keep fighting" in no uncertain terms, as a post-match interview with Stan Sport's Roz Kelly turned a little fiery.
Are you not entertained?!
Brumbies 27, Rebels 24
History was nearly made in Canberra on Saturday night, as the champion Brumbies and gallant Rebels were heading towards what seemed an imminent draw and first ever 'golden try' finish to a Super Rugby AU match.
That was until Ryan Lonergan was awarded a penalty on halfway, towards the right-hand touchline (around 55 metres on the angle).
With time up on the clock, even Lonergan himself was unsure if the attempt was within kickable range.
What happened next was simply brilliant, with the replacement halfback connecting perfectly to send the kick just over the crossbar for a buzzer-beating win.
Jubilant scenes erupted, as the entire Brumbies bench ran on to the field, including an injured player in a moon boot, though he was more hopping than running.
Lonergan proved to be the ultimate 'closer', also setting up a try with an inside flick pass to Tom Banks just minutes before kicking the winning points.
Meanwhile, the Rebels suffered a second heartbreaking loss in as many weeks.
However, there has been so much to like about how this team competes, with a rock-solid defensive line causing the champion Brumbies problems all night.
The Melbourne side also unleashed the attacking prowess of Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete and loosehead prop Cabous Eloff.
The South African-born prop provided one of the most majestic sights in all of rugby – a 125kg human gracefully striding into open pastures.
While it wasn't quite enough on the night, the 'Rebellion' is real in 2021.
SUPER RUGBY AOTEAROA
Highlanders 39, Chiefs 23
New Zealand has become synonymous with producing giant left wingers over the years.
From Caleb Clarke, to Julian Savea, to the late great Jonah Lomu, the No.11 jersey has graced some broad shoulders for the best part of 25 years.
So Wallabies fans may shudder at the new No.11 for the Highlanders, Jona Nareki, who is much smaller in stature, but produced a gigantic performance in the win over the Chiefs on Friday night in Hamilton.
Nareki, just 1.75m tall and weighing 83kg, made the Chiefs feel the full brunt of his frame as he steamrolled, stepped and evaded defenders, on his way to 197 run metres and a hat-trick of tries, while laying on another for good measure.
The Chiefs looked like they would run away with this match in the early stages, with electric fullback Damian McKenzie looking sharp.
However, while leading 20-6 and hot on attack, a Chiefs blunder let Nareki loose to score a runaway try against the run of play.
That really changed the course of the match as they home team faded badly.
It may be another long season in Hamilton.
Crusaders 33, Hurricanes 16
In a game that had to be rescheduled to Sunday, thanks to COVID lockdowns in New Zealand, the Crusaders ran out winners in front of 12,000 fans at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.
The Hurricanes started the game brightly, thanks to strong running by the Savea brothers – Julian and Ardie, but following Ardie's yellow card, the men in red and black made them pay, effectively killing off the game by halftime with four tries and a 26-6 lead.
Hooker Codie Taylor again showed outstanding form and scored a decisive points decision over All Blacks rival Asafo Aumua, who suffered a worrying arm injury after halftime.
In picking up a bonus point victory, the Crusaders were like a cat toying with their prey.
They will look to extend their winning streak next week against the Chiefs, while the 'Canes head into the bye winless, with a mounting injury toll.
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