Rugby-Blues crush Force to go top, Brumbies keep pace in Super Rugby

(Reuters) - Auckland Blues took advantage of a bye for pacesetters the Wellington Hurricanes with a 50-3 mauling of Western Force on Friday to move top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings on points difference at the end of round seven.

The ACT Brumbies downed the New South Wales Waratahs 40-16 on Saturday to join the Blues and Hurricanes on 27 points, while the Waikato Chiefs, losing finalists last season, were four points back in fourth after a 68-12 thrashing of Moana Pasifika.