Blues vs Highlanders: Super Rugby live scores

20th April, 2018

1254 Reads

Where: Eden Park, Auckland
When: 5:35pm AEST
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey (New Zealand), Mike Lash (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Blues
15 Stephen Perofeta, 14 Jordan Hyland, 13 Orbyn Leger, 12 TJ Faiane, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Jonathan Ruru, 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Kara Pryor, 6 Dalton Papalii, 5 Jimmy Tupou, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu, 3 Ofa Tuungafasi/Mike Tamoaieta, 2 James Parsons, 1 Pauliasi Manu

Replacements: 16 Matt Moulds/Leni Apisai, 17 Ross Wright, 18 Mike Tamoaieta/Sione Mafileo, 19 Ben Neenee, 20 Murphy Taramai, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Tumua Manu, 23 Matt Duffie

Highlanders
15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (cc), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown

Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Alex Ainley, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes

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Ash Dixon of the Highlanders celebrates with his teammates. (Photo by Rob Jefferies/Getty Images)

The Roar

20th April, 2018

1254 Reads

Two teams on the lower rungs of the New Zealand conference go head to head on Friday night when the Blues host the Highlanders. Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST.

Unfortunately for the Blues their run as being New Zealand’s weakest Super Rugby team is continuing this year. They’ve won just two of seven games and sit a distant last in the New Zealand conference, with no real hope of making finals.

One of those wins came back in Round 4, a stunning three-point victory over last year’s finalists the Lions, but it stands out in stark contrast towards an otherwise unsuccessful year.

Their second and only other win for the year came last week 24-10 over the Sunwolves, a far less impressive scalp.

As for the Highlanders, they’re in fairly good nick so far this season, and would consider themselves unlucky to be fourth in the New Zealand conference.

A big part of that is that they have played one less game than every other team. They have four wins from their six appearances so far this season, a record any side would be happy with.

Last week they returned from the bye to put in a crushing victory over the Brumbies. It was an important result because thanks to a week off and losses to fellow New Zealand franchises, they’d not had a win since March 17 before that.

The Highlanders and Blues have already met this season with the Highlanders coming away victorious by seven points.

Prediction
Hard to say with absolute certainty what the food chain looks like for the New Zealand conference right now, but it’s pretty clear that the Blues are at the bottom.

Highlanders by 12

Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 5:35pm AEST.

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