Round 14 of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season delivered late drama, big upsets, and major playoff movement.
The Hurricanes stunned the Highlanders with a last-play try, the Crusaders kept their finals hopes alive with a clinical win in Sydney, and Moana Pasifika made history against the Blues. Elsewhere, the Drua dominated at home, and the Brumbies climbed to the top of the table.
- Hurricanes 24 – 20 Highlanders
- NSW Waratahs 33 – 48 Crusaders
- Fijian Drua 38 – 7 Western Force
- Moana Pasifika 27 – 21 Blues
- ACT Brumbies 24 – 14 Queensland Reds
Here are all the results, recaps, and highlights from Round 14:
ROIGARD BREAKS HIGHLANDERS’ HEARTS WITH LAST-PLAY WINNER IN WELLINGTON THRILLER
Hurricanes 24 – 20 Highlanders (HT: 7–14)
Cam Roigard was the hero in Wellington, scoring a dramatic match-winning try after the siren to lift the Hurricanes to a 24–20 comeback victory over the Highlanders. The All Blacks scrum-half crossed twice in the second half — including the decisive blow after 22 grueling phases — to keep the ’Canes firmly in the top-six race and all but end the Highlanders’ finals hopes. The Highlanders struck early through James Lowe, who stretched out to finish in the corner after slick build-up play. Despite losing flanker Brayden Iose to an ankle injury, the Hurricanes responded through Bailyn Sullivan before Lowe bagged his second try off the back of a brutal Tanielu Tele’a run and a sharp assist from fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Timoci Tavatavanawai’s yellow card for a high tackle gave the Hurricanes a chance to level, but the Highlanders held firm to take a 14–7 lead into the break. Roigard sparked the comeback with a darting solo try in the 47th minute before setting up Callum Harkin, only for the fullback’s try to be ruled out. Ruben Love stepped up with a penalty to give the Hurricanes their first lead at 17–14. Taine Robinson responded with back-to-back penalties to edge the visitors ahead 20–17 with five minutes left, but Wellington wasn’t done. Turning down a kickable penalty, the Hurricanes nearly blew their chance when a scrum play went into touch — only for Love to carve open the defense moments later and Roigard to dive over for a famous win in front of a raucous home crowd.
HURRICANES
- Tries: Sullivan (12’), Roigard (48’, 80’)
- Conversions: Love (13’, 49’, 80’)
- Penalties: Love (61’)
HIGHLANDERS
- Tries: Lowe (2’, 18’)
- Conversions: Robinson (3’, 19’)
- Penalties: Robinson (68’, 72’)
CRUSADERS END WARATAHS’ FINALS HOPES WITH SEVEN-TRY STATEMENT IN SYDNEY
NSW Waratahs 33 – 48 Crusaders (HT: 7–31)
The Crusaders kept their slim playoff hopes alive and shattered the Waratahs’ finals ambitions with a dominant 48–33 victory at Allianz Stadium. A five-try first half blitz left the hosts shell-shocked, and although NSW mounted a spirited second-half fightback, Sevu Reece and Tom Christie crossed late to close the door on any miracle comeback. The defending champions struck early and often, with Johnny McNicholl, Braydon Ennor, Ioane Moananu, Chay Fihaki, and Cullen Grace all crossing in the opening 40 minutes. Dan McKellar’s Waratahs managed just one score before the break through Langi Gleeson, who was one of the few bright spots on a disappointing night. The ’Tahs roared back with second-half tries from Gleeson again and Miles Amatosero to cut the deficit to 31–21. But a costly knock-on from Gleeson off the restart halted momentum and opened the door for Reece, who raced over for his 61st Super Rugby try, equaling TJ Perenara as the competition’s all-time top try-scorer. Christie added another in the closing stages after a pinpoint James O’Connor pass — part of an impactful 25-minute cameo that included a try assist and a crucial cover tackle. Triston Reilly crossed for a late consolation try, but it was too little, too late for a Waratahs side now staring down the end of their campaign.
NSW WARATAHS
- Tries: Gleeson (23’, 45’), Amatosero (53’), Lancaster (71’), Reilly (80’)
- Conversions: Edmed (24’, 46’, 54’), Bowen (72’)
CRUSADERS
- Tries: McNicholl (3’), Ennor (9’), Moananu (16’), Fihaki (28’), Grace (40’), Reece (59’), Christie (77’)
- Conversions: Reihana (4’, 17’, 29’), O’Connor (60’, 78’)
- Penalties: O’Connor (75’)
DRUA CRUSH FORCE’S FINALS HOPES WITH DOMINANT DISPLAY IN LAUTOKA
Fijian Drua 38 – 7 Western Force (HT: 17–7)
Fijian Drua lit up Churchill Park with a five-try performance to overwhelm a fatigued Western Force side 38–7, officially ending the visitors’ Super Rugby Pacific playoff hopes for 2025. Elia Canakaivata scored a second-half brace as the Drua turned a tight first half into a convincing bonus-point win — their ninth straight at home. Despite striking first through Sio Tomkinson following a loose Drua pass in the third minute, the Force couldn’t maintain their early momentum. A yellow card to Henry Robertson didn’t immediately cost them points, but the tide began to turn late in the first half. A brilliant offload under pressure from Iosefo Masi set up Philip Baselala to level the scores in the 29th minute, and Masi himself dotted down seven minutes later when the Force misread a short chip kick. That gave the hosts a 17–7 halftime lead. The second half was one-way traffic. Canakaivata twice smashed over from close range to stretch the lead before Selestino Ravutaumada put the game beyond reach, pouncing on a loose ball in the 72nd minute to seal the bonus point. The Force, missing several key players due to injury and rest management, were unable to cope with the Drua’s speed and physicality, particularly in the humid Fijian conditions. Their turnover count and missed tackles mounted, while their attack fizzled after the opening try. With this result, the Force remain in ninth on the ladder with one game to play and cannot finish inside the top six. Drua move up from the bottom, keeping their hopes alive in the wooden spoon battle.
FIJIAN DRUA
- Tries: Baselala (29’), Masi (36’), Canakaivata (49’, 66’), Ravutaumada (73’)
- Conversions: Armstrong-Ravula (30’, 37’), Muntz (50’, 67’, 74’)
- Penalties: Armstrong-Ravula (40’)
WESTERN FORCE
- Tries: Tomkinson (3’)
- Conversions: Harford (4’)
TAUMOEFOLAU HAT-TRICK LIFTS MOANA PASIFIKA TO HISTORIC WIN OVER BLUES
Moana Pasifika 27 – 21 Blues (HT: 11–14)
Kyren Taumoefolau was the hero under the lights at Mount Smart Stadium as Moana Pasifika stunned the Blues 27–21 to keep their finals dream alive and leapfrog the defending champions into sixth place. The electric winger bagged a dazzling hat-trick, including a solo stunner late in the second half, to secure Moana’s first-ever win over their Auckland rivals. In a tense and scrappy opening quarter, Patrick Pellegrini’s boot accounted for the only points, slotting two penalties to give Moana a 6–0 lead. But the game tilted when Tito Tuipulotu was sent to the bin for collapsing a maul. The Blues responded immediately, with his older brother Patrick Tuipulotu crashing over to give the visitors a 7–6 advantage. The Blues extended their lead to 14–6 after a dominant maul was illegally stopped, resulting in a penalty try. But Taumoefolau sparked the comeback just before halftime, crossing in the corner to close the gap. Pellegrini added two more penalties to send Moana into the break up 14–13. After the restart, Taumoefolau struck again, soaring high to collect a cross-kick and push the hosts further ahead. A yellow card to Pepesana Patafilo for a high tackle on Anton Segner gave the Blues hope, but Taumoefolau’s third try sealed it — a moment of magic that saw him gather a grubber kick he’d placed himself and beat two defenders to the line. Millennium Sanerivi was denied a try after a TMO review spotted a foot in touch, and Hoskins Sotutu’s late effort made it a one-score game, but Ardie Savea’s clutch breakdown turnover in the dying moments sealed the win. The result bumps Moana Pasifika into the top six with two rounds to play, while the Blues now face a nervous final stretch on the outside looking in.
MOANA PASIFIKA
- Tries: Taumoefolau (37’, 58’, 67’)
- Penalties: Pellegrini (14’, 30’, 48’, 53’)
BLUES
- Tries: Penalty Try (27’), Tuipolotu (32’), Sotutu (73’)
- Conversions: Barrett (33’, 74’)
BRUMBIES EDGE REDS IN TENSE CANBERRA CLASH TO GO TOP OF THE LADDER
Brumbies 24 – 14 Reds (HT: 7–7)
The Brumbies surged to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific table with a gritty 24–14 win over the Queensland Reds at GIO Stadium — their fifth consecutive victory in this Trans-Tasman rivalry. Despite being starved of possession and territory in the first half, the hosts punished Reds errors and defended with discipline to seal a crucial result, though the win may have come at a cost with captain Allan Alaalatoa suffering a lower-leg injury. The Reds struck first in clinical fashion, Tate McDermott slicing through at the base of the ruck and setting up Tim Ryan for a sharp finish under the posts. But the Brumbies responded through their captain, as Alaalatoa powered over from close range for his seventh try of the season. Hunter Paisami’s yellow card for a high tackle on Corey Toole proved costly, and the Brumbies took full advantage. Andy Muirhead slipped through space for their second try before fullback Tom Wright finished off a sweeping move to make it 21–7. Josh Nasser clawed one back for the Reds from a rolling maul after a strong shift from the bench, cutting the deficit to seven. But the visitors couldn’t capitalise on multiple second-half opportunities, as knock-ons and poor decisions allowed the Brumbies to regain control. Ryan Lonergan’s penalty goal stretched the margin to ten, and though the Reds had one final gasp — an 80-metre break sparked by Kalani Thomas — Connor Vest spilled the ball within metres of the line to end the match. With the bye next week, the Brumbies now turn their focus to a potential top-two showdown with the Crusaders, while the Reds must regroup ahead of two vital home games to protect their top-four ambitions.
BRUMBIES
- Tries: Alaalatoa (20’), Muirhead (47’), Wright (51’)
- Conversions: Lonergan (21’, 48’, 52’)
- Penalties: Lonergan (76’)
REDS
- Tries: Ryan (6’), Nasser (60’)
- Conversions: McLaughlin-Phillips (7’, 61’)
STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 14
With only two rounds left in the regular season, the playoff picture is starting to take shape — but several teams still have everything to play for.
Moana Pasifika’s surge continues, while the Crusaders, Hurricanes, and Reds all remain in a tight race for finals positioning. Round 15 is shaping up to be pivotal across the board.
Who impressed you most in Round 14? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let’s talk rugby.
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