PERTH — The Western Force moved into second place in Super Rugby's Australia conference with a club-record fifth consecutive win, beating New South Wales Waratahs 28-16 Saturday. Winger Nick Cummins scored three tries for the Force as the Western Australia side moved to within three points of first-placed ACT Brumbies. The Force has played just seven games to the Brumbies' eight. Wallabies fullback Israel Folau was controversially removed from the Waratahs' lineup by the Australian Rugby Union Friday less than 36 hours after New South Wales deemed Folau fit to play. The ARU said it received its own medical advice that Folau, who sustained a throat injury against Melbourne on March 21, was not ready to play. Folau missed the Waratahs' two games in South Africa but was named in the New South Wales team to play the Force. He expected to play after saying he got the go ahead from a specialist in Perth earlier this week and from New South Wales team doctor Sharron Flahive. “Obviously I'm very disappointed and frustrated at this stage, but the ARU have made a decision and I'm not happy with it,” Folau said. “I'm very confused. I've spoken to Sharron and the specialist that I've seen here in Perth this week. They said that I was good to go.” The Waratahs scored first Saturday through a penalty just inside halfway from Kurtley Beale in the ninth minute, then Beale kicked another to make it 6-0 just two minutes later. The Force replied with a penalty before Cummins intercepted a pass from Nick Phipps and ran almost the length of the field to score his first try, and the Force did not trail again in the match. In Hamilton, Gareth Anscombe stepped comfortably into the boots of injured All Blacks flyhalf Aaron Cruden, creating a try and kicking 14 points to steer the Chiefs to a 22-16 win over the Melbourne Rebels inanother match. Anscombe moved into the No. 10 jersey from fullback to replace Cruden, who is sidelined for six weeks with a broken thumb, and played a substantial role in the Chiefs' fourth win from seven games this season. In Bloemfontein, South Africa, the Crusaders scored four of their six tries in the last 17 minutes to beat the Cheetahs 52-31. Powerful wing Nemani Nadolo collected a hat trick. Trailing by five points after 63 minutes, the Crusaders found late energy to subdue a Cheetahs team in a free-flowing 10-try game at Free State Stadium. Super Rugby's most successful team also made it two wins from two from its tour of South Africa.— AP
