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[VIDEO] Highlanders vs Chiefs highlights: Qualifying Final scores, blog

Roar Guru
20th June, 2015
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 5:35pm AEST
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Highlanders $1.53, Chiefs $2.51
Head-to-Head: Highlanders 9, Chiefs 15
Last 5: Highlanders 3, Chiefs 2

Highlanders
15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Brendon Edwards

Substitutes: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Shaun Treeby

Chiefs
15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Bryce Heem, 13 Tim Nanai-Williams, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 James Lowe, 10 Andrew Horrell, 9 Brad Weber, 8 Liam Messam (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Michael Fitzgerald, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Matt Symons, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Pauliasi Manu

Substitutes: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Jamie Mackintosh, 19 Mitchell Crosswell, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Marty McKenzie, 23 Seta Tamanivalu
Sonny Bill Williams could be a big factor for the All Blacks. (AFP PHOTO/ STR)
Roar Guru
20th June, 2015
303
10948 Reads

The Super Rugby finals are here and tonight sees a New Zealand blockbuster between the Highlanders and the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr. Join us for live scores and commentary from 5:35pm AEST.

Super Rugby finals means no second chances and make no mistake this game where the winner has the chance to face the Waratahs next week will live up to its billing.

There are All Blacks all over the field but there will be no bigger contest tonight than Sonny Bill Williams and Malakai Fekitoa, both outstanding centres who this year have had enthralling battles when their sides have faced each other.

Make no mistake though the Highlanders with the home ground advantage will be tough to beat, they have won four consecutive games at home with three of those by 18 points or more.

Both sides will be looking to atone for last year’s defeats in their respective qualifiers where both went down by less than five points in their games.

However this Chiefs side knows how to win at the pointy end of the season, they have won five of their eight games when they have made it to the post-season. While you would have to go back to the 1999 semi final to see the last time the Highlanders won in the finals, their only win in six attempts.

It could be an omen though as that game was played in Dunedin.

The Highlanders have been a force in attack this year scoring a try in every game this year, while the only game the Chiefs didn’t score in was in Round 16 when they played the Highlanders.

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In that game the Highlanders managed to keep the Chiefs to their lowest metres gained, defenders beaten and clean breaks for a game this season.

Prediction
A tight and willing contest here but I still believe the Chiefs are missing the class of Aaron Cruden.

Highlanders by 3.

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