Highlanders
35
Match Complete
Blues
29
| 79 |  | H. Sotutu | ||
| M. Collins | | 74 | ||
| 70 |  | O. Black | ||
| 69 | | N. Laulala | ||
| M. Hunt |  | 67 | ||
| J. Nareki | | 57 | ||
| J. Ioane | | 42 | ||
| N. Punivai | | 41 | ||
| 37 | | O. Black | ||
| 33 | | O. Black | ||
| 32 | | R. Ioane | ||
| J. Ioane | | 24 | ||
| J. Ioane | | 16 | ||
| K. Himeno | | 14 | ||
| J. Ioane | | 11 | ||
| 6 | | O. Black | ||
| 5 | | J. Ruru |
| 5 | Tries | 4 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 3 | ||
| 2 | Penalty Goals | 1 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Highlanders host the Blues in a Friday night encounter that will be crucial in deciciding the Super Rugby Aotearoa finals race. Stay up to date with the action with live scores on The Roar from 5:05pm (AEST).
It’s the Highlanders’ last home game of the season and no doubt their most important fixture of the year to date. Still in with a chance of finishing in second spot, they need to topple the Blues if they’re to keep that post-season hope alive.
The visitors come into this evening fresh off a bye, and will know a win will go awfully close to propelling them into the final. However if they are to get up, they’ll have to do so without captain Patrick Tuipulotu, who is still sidelined with a neck injury.
The Landers have some injury concerns of their own. In addition to Folau Fakatava being struck down with a ruptured ACL a few weeks ago, Connor Garden-Bachop is also done for the season with a wrist injury.
Game information
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Blues $1.52, Highlanders $2.54 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Highlanders
(1-15): Ayden Johnstone, Ash Dixon (c), Siate Tokolahi, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, Shannon Frizell, Billy Harmon, Kazuki Himeno, Aaron Smith (c), Mitch Hunt, Jona Nareki, Scott Gregory, Sio Tomkinson, Ngatungane Punivai, Josh Ioane
Bench: Liam Coltman, Ethan De Groot, Josh Hohneck, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Kayne Hammington, Michael Collins, James Lentjes
Blues
(1-15): Karl Tu’inukuafe, Luteru Tolai, Ofa Tuungafasi, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Sam Darry, Tom Robinson (c), Dalton Papalii, Hoskins Sotutu, Jonathan Ruru, Otere Black, Caleb Clarke, TJ Faiane, Rieko Ioane, Mark Telea, Stephen Perofeta
Bench: Leni Apisai, Alex Hodgman, Nepo Laulala, Josh Goodhue, Akira Ioane, Finlay Christie, Harry Plummer, Bryce Heem
Paulo
Roar Rookie
So, not a great season so far, although getting better. But at least they have arguably the top two scalps in the cupboard - Crusaders and Blues. If they can find a way to replicate the form from both those games consistently, they would be down right dangerous.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Just like a squid launcher... unpredictable.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Not me. I predicted it to be unpredictable.
Guess
Roar Rookie
Who said NZ SR is predictable?
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Also Owen Farrell
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Failed as Crusaders attack coach... Failed as Leicester head coach... Appointed Highlanders head coach!
Im enjoying Browns coaching...Its innovative and causes surprise...If you compare the two squads tonight you would not expect the result we got...
I see more value in those short kicks than I do in Box kicks.....they counter a rush defense quite well
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Yep, I remember you expressing your concerns re Mauger, and rightfully so! :thumbup: Yes, Brown is showing the evidence of a rebuild, and that is a positive sign!
Highlander
Roar Guru
One guy had 21 tackles, 14 carries, a handful of lineouts and a bunch of counterrucks The other had a blue rinse in his hair :)
Highlander
Roar Guru
Well done Ken, I didn’t
Highlander
Roar Guru
You may remember I was extremely vocal about Mauger needing to go, even before he did Hard for Brown to rebuild a lopsided squad in one year, so this isn’t a bad effort so far.
Pinetree
Roar Rookie
Tony Brown is doing a great job with this team, you must be glad Aaron Mauger is no longer coaching… :silly:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Congrats to you and Muzzo Highlander. And modesty demands that I remind everyone- against the bookies - I picked it :happy:
Scotty P
Roar Rookie
He's getting a bit of attention on TSF. People are starting to notice him. We need a good young loosehead to come through in NZ, it's probably our weakest position in term of depth.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
With thanks to the people at stuff.co.nz Fulltime stats Possession: Blues 52% Highlanders 48% Territory: Blues 53% Highlanders 47% Metres gained: Blues 391 Highlanders 306 Penalties conceded: Blues 12 Highlanders 10 Turnovers conceded: Blues 13 Highlanders 7 Tackles: Blues 114/124 Highlanders 136/165
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Blues are 1 red card for the game. Perhaps lucky not 2 for Nepo Laulala’s eye gouge. Would not be surprised if it gets a review post match.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Ain’t that the truth Shame Sotutu is going backwards at a rate of knots too.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Fair points, Highlander. Pretty sure he will get the nod when the AB'S season starts but we shall see if he can hold on to it. As you and many others already have spotted, the ABs biggest challenge is to get a balanced back row, just picking the three best back rowers from SRA doesn't bring the cheese.
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
JD, I’m a big fan of Papalii but I feel suited for No 6 rather than 7. That was a tough pass that he grassed