Highlanders
24
Match Complete
Blues
12
| 80 |  | H. Plummer | ||
| 79 |  | M. Nanai | ||
| J. Ioane |  | 64 | ||
| J. Ioane | | 57 | ||
| M. Faddes | | 55 | ||
| 49 | |||
| J. Ioane | | 28 | ||
| S. Frizell | | 26 | ||
| 22 | | T. Robinson |
| 3 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 2 | Conversions | 1 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
The Highlanders and the Blues will both be keen to get back among the Super Rugby winners when they go head-to-head on Saturday. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog, starting from 5:35pm AEST.
After spending a few years as the weak team of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference, the Blues finally look like a side that could play finals in 2019.
Their season got off to an oh-so-close start, falling two points short of the near-unbeatable Crusaders, only to cop the disappointment of then going on to lose to the Sharks and Blues.
However a win over the Sunwolves kickstarted some good form for the Aucklanders, who went on to record four consecutive victories.
Probably the most impressive of those came a few weeks ago against the same side they’ll play today, making use of the home ground advantage to trump the Highlanders 33-26.
They would’ve been disappointed last week to go down to fellow New Zealanders the Chiefs by just four points and will want to get right back on the horse with a win today.
As for the Highlanders, after winning their first two matches of the season, they’ve suffered five consecutive defeats, and any plans they had for finals action are rapidly slipping away.
Bar last week’s 26-point capitulation to the Crusaders, all of those losses have been within a margin of seven points or closer – so they’ve hardly been woeful, but just not getting their due.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog, starting from 5:35pm AEST.
Date: Saturday 20 April
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick Off: 5:35pm AEST
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant Ref 1: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 2: James Doleman
TMO: Shane McDermott
Last five results
Fri, 22 Mar 2019 Highlanders 26-33 Blues – Auckland
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 Highlanders 34-16 Blues – Auckland
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 Highlanders 41-34 Blues – Dunedin
Sat, 08 Apr 2017 Highlanders 26-20 Blues – Dunedin
Sat, 11 Mar 2017 Highlanders 16-12 Blues – Auckland
Overall
Highlanders 15, Blues 17
Highlanders
Daniel Lienert-Brown, Liam Coltman, Tyrel Lomax, Jackson Hemopo, Tom Franklin, Shannon Frizell, James Lentjes, Elliot Dixon, Kayne Hammington, Josh Ioane, Tevita Li, Teihorangi Walden, Patelesio Tomkinson, Matt Faddes, Ben Smith (CC)
Replacements: Ash Dixon, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Dickson, Luke Whitelock (CC), Aaron Smith, Bryn Gatland, Thomas Umaga-Jensen.
Blues
15 Melani Nanai, 14 Caleb Clarke, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Otere Black, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Dalton Papalii, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (c), 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1. Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Alex Hodgman, 18 Ofa Tuungafasi, 19 Josh Goodhue, 20 Jed Brown, 21 Sam Nock, 22 Harry Plummer, 23 Matt Duffie.
Highlander
Guest
Thanks RT, little between the Landers, Chiefs and Blues now
Rugby Tragic
Roar Rookie
Congratulations Highlander ... too good
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
Fulltime The Highlanders have returned to the winner's circle after quite a long absence with a 12-point win over the Blues. The Blues drew first blood in the 22nd minute through their big red-headed number 6 Tom Robinson. The legendary Ma'a Nonu made a clean break through some Highlander forwards who'd been tired out by the opening arm wrestle, came to Highlanders' fullback Ben Smith and threw a perfectly timed pass to Robinson who crashed over for the try. The Blues certainly looked better than their opponents early, but the Highlanders managed to scrape their way back into the game through try-scoring machine Shannon Frizell, who crashed over after picking up a loose ball close to the line. With the successful conversion from Josh Ioane, the Highlanders took a 7-5 lead into the halftime break. The second half was extremely scrappy. There were plenty of knock ons, and consequently plenty of time was spent waiting for scrums to pack. However, when the ball was in play the Highlanders looked far better than the Blues, and had found many more opportunities to attack due to their superior discipline and ball-handling. The Highlanders extended their lead in the 50th minute with a penalty try at a scrum 5m out from the Blues' line. They struck again in the 55th minute through Matt Faddes, who took a great intercept and ran 60m to score untouched. From there it looked very unlikely that the Blues would get back into the game. Both sides coughed up plenty of possession, and very little rugby was played between the 55th and 70th minutes. With Josh Ioane slotting a penalty goal in the 64th minute to give his side a 19 point lead, the Highlanders shut up shop and played to run the clock down. Melania Nanai scored a great try off a kick-pass in the 80th minute from Plummer to make the scores slightly closer, and the Blues put some impressive attacking plays together after the fulltime siren to try edge the scores even closer. But it was too little too late for the Blues, as the Highlanders notched up their first victory since their round 2 win over the QLD Reds, and just their third win for the season! Highlanders – 24 Blues – 12
Julz
Guest
Man, the Blues desperately needs a world class 9 and 10. Aaron Cruden is coming back, if they can manage to get him that would be a great catch. That long haired tall halfback is just overrated. They got everything covered except for those two positions.
Danny
Roar Pro
Blues not good enough. Forwards ordinary - stupid holding in the scrum, turning over on the one-off and even turning over line out drives. Had little joy from the ref. Still the weakest team in the comp, just.
Highlander
Guest
Now that s better Gordon Hunter Trophy stays at home Muscled right up second forty
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
83' Tevita Li steals the ball. Aaron Smith passes to Otere Black who kicks it into touch and that's all she wrote. Great win for the Highlanders! Match report to come. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 12
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
82' Blues take the kick off and chance their arm, immediately making a break downfield. They're bogged down around halfway now, trying to make inroads through the forwards. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 12
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
79' Blues win the scrum but lose it quickly then get it back. Rieko Ioane makes a break, sends it to Sam Nock who takes it further downfield. Almost gets taken into touch by Tevita Li. Penalty Blues and they take the quick tap. Plummer kick passes across field and it's taken by Nanai who scores! Plummer drop-kicks it over and we'll have time for a restart. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 12
80
79
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
77' Tomkinson knocks on and the Blues send it left for Ioane but it's a forward pass. They'll come back for the Tomkinson knock on. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
76' Highlanders win the scrum and attack left. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
74' Another knock on against the Blues and Aaron Smith will feed the scrum for the Highlanders. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
74′ Tomkinson with a steal on Matt Duffy and a break. Gets brought down and the Highlanders are on the attack. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
71' Scrum turns, penalty against Highlanders for angling in. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
71' Dixon makes a break, throws an offload and it's put down. Sloppy stuff - should've gone to ground and played on. He really didn't need to throw that. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
70' Highlanders win the line out on the 22. They will look to absorb time here with forward runs up the middle. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
69' Penalty against the Blues for not releasing the ball. That's probably their final chance that has just slipped away. Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5
Daniel Szabo
Roar Guru
68' Blues' penalty for front row angling in. They'll throw in at the line out just past halfway. They have to score now if they're to have any chance! Highlanders – 24 Blues – 5