May 26 (Reuters) - Highlights of week 15 of Super Rugby:
STORMERS 23 LIONS 26
Madosh Tambwe scored a try five minutes from time as the Lions clawed their way to a precious victory over an ill-disciplined Stormers at Newlands on Saturday.
The home side led 17-7 after 10 minutes of the second half but when wing Raymond Rhule received a red card for dangerous play, the game turned in the favour of the visitors as they were able to make their numerical advantage count.
The home side also had yellow cards for JJ Engelbrecht and Jaco Coetzee as their discipline let them down in a season that is lurching from bad to worse for the Cape Town-based side.
Replacement hooker Corne Fourie scored two tries for the Lions and scrumhalf Nic Groom the other, as Tambwe's effort in the corner took them to a six-point lead at the top of the South African conference.
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Late Tambwe try hands Lions vital win over wilting Stormers grabs brace to lead Chiefs to Waratahs win hat-trick spurs Jaguares to sixth successive win Crusaders too strong for ineffective Hurricanes L3N1SW1OS
Highlanders Nabura handed six-week ban blow for Boks as comeback put on hold banned for positive cocaine tests name strong squad for Australia v Saracens true vindication of playoffs hope fitness proves superior in June out to cut Ireland down to size flanker Willis faces year out delays retirement called into All Blacks squad captain Barclay out for six months bets on Pumas future with new pack defence coach Gustard joins Harlequins All Blacks need 'wee uppercut' lock Arnold to miss Ireland test delighted to end Kiwi hex Sunwolves proving expansion not bad 28 BRUMBIES 38
Fullback Tom Banks scored a brilliant late try as the Brumbies claimed victory at Loftus Versfeld despite finishing the game with 14 players for the second week running.
Hooker Folau Fainga'a received a deserved red card for a head-butt on the hour mark, after which the Brumbies trailed by four points and looked to be up against the ropes.
But Banks's mazy run from 60 minutes gave them the lead in the final 10 minutes and when wing Andy Muirhead crossed for their fifth try, they were able to seal an unlikely victory.
The Bulls had led 14-10 at halftime but wasted opportunities to score and saw their play-off hopes take a dive.
REDS 15 HIGHLANDERS 18
Highlanders flyhalf Lima Sopoaga kicked a penalty two minutes from fulltime to give them a narrow victory over the Reds, who slipped to a record fifth home defeat in a row against teams from New Zealand.
The Reds held a 15-8 lead five minutes after halftime following tries by hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and fullback Hamish Stewart.
But the Highlanders put them under incessant pressure in their own half with their powerful carries and pace out wide.
The Reds held out until just before the hour mark when giant forward Liam Squire, back in action from a broken thumb, crossed for a try to level the scores, before a late penalty from right in front of the posts by Sopoaga won the game.
CHIEFS 39 WARATAHS 27
Two second-half tries to Tony Pulu gave the Chiefs the breathing space they needed as they battled back from a 14-0 deficit to beat the Waratahs on Saturday.
Chiefs' flyhalf Damian McKenzie scored after the final hooter to not only gave the home side a bonus point but also deny the Waratahs a vital extra competition point for finishing within seven on the scoreboard.
The Waratahs had been trailing 32-27 as the hooter sounded but McKenzie capitalised on a broken defensive line from an attacking scrum to score his side's sixth try and move them to 37 points on the competition table.
The Sydney-based side still lead the Australian conference on 31 points but have just a one-point lead over the Melbourne Rebels.
JAGUARES 29 SHARKS 13
Wing Ramiro Moyano scored a hat-trick as the Jaguares beat the Sharks for a sixth consecutive victory that keeps them firmly in second place in the South African conference two points behind the Lions who face the Stormers on Saturday.
The Argentine side's eight wins in 13 matches so far is their best performance in three seasons in Super Rugby with another three games to play after the June international break in which most of their players will be on duty for the Pumas.
The Sharks, who beat the Jaguares in their four previous meetings, had captain Ruan Botha sent off six minutes from time for a dangerous shoulder charge on centre Matias Orlando's head with Moyano's third try soon after clinching the bonus point.
Moyano scored twice in three minutes in the first half and Bautista Delguy went over 10 minutes from the end from his fellow winger's pass, while lock Botha got the Sharks' try on the halftime hooter.
CRUSADERS 24 HURRICANES 13
A depleted Crusaders gave the Hurricanes a lesson in wet-weather rugby to end the visitors' 10-match winning streak and record victory in damp conditions in Christchurch.
The Crusaders, without at least seven front-line players through injury or suspension, controlled the ball through their forwards, punished their opponent's poor discipline and produced a bruising defence to drive them back behind the advantage line.
The victory was the Crusader's ninth in succession this year and moved them to 50 points, extending their lead over the Hurricanes (45) at the top of the New Zealand conference and on the overall standings.
Lock Scott Barrett, prop Michael Alaalatoa and loose forward Heiden Bedwell-Curtis scored tries for the home side, while Reed Prinsep scored the only try for the visitors.