Blues
35
Match Complete
Highlanders
6
| S. Perofeta |  | 69 | ||
| R. Tuivasa-Sheck |  | 68 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 59 | ||
| A. Lam | | 58 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 48 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 47 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 36 | ||
| B. Barrett | | 34 | ||
| S. Perofeta | | 32 | ||
| A. Ioane | | 30 | ||
| 29 |  | M. Banks | ||
| 4 | | M. Banks |
| 5 | Tries | 0 | ||
| 5 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 2 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Blues and Highlanders meet in Eden Park for an all-New Zealand quarter-final. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:05pm AEST.
It’s no secret that the Blues were eyeing this final off for the last month knowing that their place at the top of the Super Rugby table was all but secured.
They had the luxury of resting their entire starting XV against the Waratahs and still managed to pull off a three-point win to end the regular season.
It’s a testament to the team’s depth and a warning sign for the Highlanders.
The underdogs have had a far different run to the finals and only scraped in due to a superior for and against record compared to the Western Force after losing to the Rebels by a point.
“When I first started playing for Otago and the Highlanders, the Blues were always the team that was tough to beat, especially when you’re going up to Eden Park,” Highlanders coach Tony Brown said.
“We’ve got to give it everything we’ve got, we can’t be afraid of their team and if it’s good enough at the end of the day then we win the game and if it’s not we’ll still be proud of the effort and the preparation that we’ve had,” he said.
The Blues have so many options this evening and could even afford to put Luke Romano on the bench who was stand in captain against the Waratahs in a man-of-the match performance.
The Highlanders will need to find a way to stop Finlay Christie and Beauden Barrett with Rieko Ioane and Tuivasa-Sheck making up an imposing midfield.
The Blues won both matches in the previous meetings between these two but the last match was only a 7-point margin which will give the Highlanders hope.
Game Information
Venue: Eden Park
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Blues $1.10, Highlanders $6.50 – odds via PlayUp
Blues
(1-15) Alex Hodgman, Kurt Eklund, Ofa Tuungafasi, James Tucker, Tom Robinson, Akira Ioane, Dalton Papalii (c), Hoskins Sotutu, Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Mark Telea, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Rieko Ioane, Bryce Heem, Stephen Perofeta
Reserves: Soane Vikena, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Adrian Choat, Sam Nock, AJ Lam, Zarn Sullivan
Highlanders
(1-15) Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Aaron Smith (c), Marty Banks, Mosese Dawai, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden Bachop
Reserves: Leni Apisai, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Mau, Max Hicks, Shannon Frizell, Folau Fakatava, Liam Coombes-Fabling, Denny Solomona
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Who says??? It ain't the Landers fault the Force couldn't get themselves up, for a finals appearance....
Ed
Guest
Christy always backs X-factor. He wrote last year why Beale should the Wallabies #15, so not surprised with him wanting that 10-12-13 axis. Defence is not high on his list.
Tez
Roar Rookie
Enjoy the Speights Highlanders but you should not have been playing s final
Highlander
Roar Guru
I hope so And if courwe he would , he’s Australian
Ed
Guest
HL, Do you think they will appoint Dermody? Oh, I saw the below tweet from Fuxsports' Christy Doran and thought of you: https://twitter.com/ChristypDoran/status/1533000193070616579
Machooka
Roar Guru
Congrats Blues... done good. 14 wins on the trot is very good... and 2 more more would be spectacular and definitely something to shout about! :thumbup: :rugby: :happy: Shout-out to the old Tragic sore toe thingy dude :laughing:
Machooka
Roar Guru
'The hooker laughing at the red was a hard watch.' Yes... very disappointing to see that. :unhappy:
Old Bugger
Roar Rookie
Hard luck HL....but gees, I thought the niggle might just pinch this one and instead, Maka put himself in the naughty chair and, that was it.....14pts and more that followed. Blues playing some outstanding footy tho'.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Bobbly 50-22 allows the Blues to exit from scrappy play. Final attack of the night is with the Blues and they kick the ball out for a solid win. Their defence won them this match, but the clever coached moves off set piece for the tries will stay in memory. No doubt about the Highlanders strength and ability, but the Blues were ahead on organisation. The Blues will be worried about the scrum and the number of penalties given away. The worst penalty offence of the match was the red card, good call by the excellent Angus Gardiner, despite all the other Blues penalties it was the Highlanders who were carded and it made a critical difference to the result as many others have said. Highlanders effort excellent, ability good, but capability to overcome the power skill and organisation of the Blues was not on show for long enough periods tonight.
WEST
Roar Guru
Good job Blues :silly: :thumbup:
Highlander
Roar Guru
Back to club rugby with his brothers
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Blues just too much skill. Highlanders needed Smith (45 minutes) and no red and a first five who didn’t make errors. Banks missed touch from a penalty and Blues scored immediately. He drops the bomb - they scored and missed the easy drop goal. Once De Groot left the scrum went backwards. A pity he couldn’t stay on. Frizell had to come on earlier. The hooker laughing at the red was a hard watch.
Tim J
Roar Rookie
I second that Highlander, Clarke needs to come in.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
And NZR - let's do something about the stockpiles of players in Auckland and Christchurch.
Lux Interior
Roar Rookie
It goes back to Sam Gilbert’s stupidity. And banishing Marty to the Coast is no punishment.
tuohyred
Roar Rookie
He was, but we all age
Highlander
Roar Guru
Congrats Blues Highlanders limped to the end with a real patched up squad Highlanders Board - You must appoint Clarke Dermody for next season.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Blues win the defensive scrum. 4 minutes to go.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Highlanders blow a try on the wing with the tryline open.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Three