BRISBANE, Australia (AP) The Chiefs moved closer to clinching first place in the New Zealand conference with an eight-try, 50-5 win over the Queensland Reds in Super Rugby on Friday.
The big win at Brisbane moved the Chiefs six points ahead of the second-place Crusaders in the conference in the penultimate round of the regular season. The Christchurch-based Crusaders host Melbourne on Saturday.
Flyhalf Damian McKenzie scored a pair of tries and kicked five conversions to lead the Chiefs, who led 33-5 at halftime.
Earlier, the Auckland-based Blues damaged the playoff chances of the ACT Brumbies when they beat the Australian conference leaders 40-15.
The Blues are the last-place team in the New Zealand conference and their effortless win over the Brumbies raised further questions over the current strength of Australian rugby. The Blues scored four tries to lead 28-7 after only 20 minutes.
All Blacks flanker Jerome Kaino scored two tries and saw his team score two more while he spent 10 minutes on the sideline after conceding the penalty try which gave the Brumbies their first points.
Hooker James Parsons, prop Sam Prattley, and winger Matt Duffie also scored tries.
''We're always at our best when we play on our instinct. That's what we're good at,'' Parsons said. ''But we earned the right to play that way.''
The New South Wales Waratahs, level with the Brumbies in the standings, can take charge of the Australian conference if they can beat the Wellington-based Hurricanes on Saturday at Sydney.
The playoff-bound Lions, who have already clinched first place in the South Africa 2 conference, played the last-place Southern Kings later Friday at Johannesburg.
