HIGHLANDERS 26 - 20 BLUES
FULLTIME: The Highlanders win! The crowd erupts as the Landers have beaten the Blues for the second time this season, and held they scoreless in the second half. What a win and what a match. Once again, this is exactly why we love NZ v NZ matches.
78mins: The Highlanders survive! They have a scrum with two minutes remaining. The Blues just made their 22nd mistake of the match.
77mins: Ben Smith comes up with the clutch play by charging down Blake Gibson' kick. If it was successful the Blues were in
76mins: The Blues win a much-needed penalty and now they will have to go 70 metres to try to find a match-winning try.
74mins: Surprising change as Aaron Smith heads to the bench replaced by Kayne Hammington.
72mins: PENALTY GOAL HIGHLANDERS: Banks keeps his perfect record intact as they now lead by six.
70mins: The ball pops out of the ruck nd the Highlanders use another get out of free jail card. The home side now has possession inside the Blues 22 with 10 remaining.
69mins: The Blues blew a great chance. All they had to do was pass the ball, but they did not do that! luckily they have a scrum.
67mins: Massive line break from the Blues and they are close to the line SBW is the one with the great run. But they lose the ball. Luckily they have an attacking scrum.
65mins: Matt Duffie has been impressive tonight. Blues attack down the right wing and are pushed into touch. Landers lead by three as we head into crunch time.
63mins: Blues still have possession and are outside the 22. But a mistake gives the Highlanders a scrum. Poor mistake by the away side.
61mins: Blues have possession insdie the Highlanders half.
58mins: Errors are starting to creep in for both sides. SBW makes his first tackle. Remeber it is his first match since the Olympics last year.
56mins: Blues have a great chance to respond with a lineout inside the Highlanders 22.
54mins: PENALTY GOAL HIGHLANDERS: Marty Banks lands another penalty goal. SBW makes his way onto the field.
51mins: Matt Duffie makes a break down the wing and kicks the ball ahead. Duffie and Ben Smith fight for the ball and Smith is forced to put the ball into touch so great field possession for the Blues.
48mins: This has been one of the best games so far this season. This is why we love NZ derby matches! Highlanders currently have possession.
46mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS: Malakai Fekitoa goes over to score the Landers second try of the match. Banks lands the extras and we are all level again in Dunedin.
44mins: No try! but the Highlander will have another scrum five metres from the line.
44mins: Malakai Fekitoa goes over and the TMO will take a look. Possible double movement or loose carry by the All Blacks midfielder.
43mins: The Highlanders go close to scoring but are short. The home side will have a scrum five from the line.
42mins: The Highlanders move quick with possession and are metres from the try line.
40mins: The second half starts in Dunedin. The Blues will recieve the ball.
HALFTIME: The Blues lead by a converted try at the break.
41mins: PENALTY GOAL HIGHLANDERS: Marty Banks hits another penalty goal for the Highlanders.
40mins: As the halftime siren sounds, the Highlanders win a penalty at the scrum.
37mins: TRY BLUES: The North Harbour lock has scored his first career try for the Blues as they are now back out to a 10 point lead.
36mins: Possible try to Gerard Cowley-Tuioti who crosses the line. The TMO will look at the play.
35mins: Some confusion among the players after an incident in the lineout. But the Blues win the penalty and they kick to touch. Only five metres from the line.
33mins: The Blues have had over 10 phases with the ball and they win a penalty after some sneaky play from Augustine Pulu
30mins: Jerome Kaino is down after a accidental dangerous tackle. Both teams having a much-needed breather.
27mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS: Both teams go back and forth trying to counter and the Highlanders all of a sudden get close to the try line and Ben Smith strolls over for their first five-pointer of the match.
26mins: The Blues break the line are edge closer to the Highlanders 22. Francis spreads the ball wide and George Moala carries it inside the 22, but a poor offload turn the ball over and the Highlanders go on the counter.
23mins: PENALTY GOAL BLUES: The Blues extend their lead in Dunedin after trailing early in the match.
22mins: The Blues are going for another three points after the Highlanders were pinned for being offside.
20mins: The Waisake Naholo chant starts around the stadium. Who is not even playing I might add. Whenever I hear the chant, I always think they are saying Michael van Gerwen!
18mins: PENALTY GOAL BLUES: Piers Francis lands the penalty goal and now the Blues lead by a converted try.
17mins: After numerous resets, the Blues win a penalty and will go for the three points.
14mins: First scrum of the match on the halfway line. The Blues have the feed.
11mins: TRY BLUES: Charlie Faumuina scores the try. The Blues go on the counter attack and after great runs by Matt Duffie, Augustine Pulu and Michael Collins, the All Blacks prop goes over for the try.
10mins: Blues have possession inside the Landers 22 and are slowly edging their way closer to the line. They spread the ball out wide, but they drop the ball and Ben Smith will slam the ball away downfield.
8mins: PENALTY GOAL HIGHLANDERS: Marty Banks lands the penalty goal and the home side lead early.
7mins: Highlanders win a penalty and they will go for the posts.
6mins: Blues push in the maul and they look great early on, but the Highlanders turn the ball over and go on the counter-attack. The Blues now have possession inside their 22.
4mins: If the two teams were to take part in a catching contest, Matt Duffie would take gold after making three great catches. Blues have possession on halfway.
2mins: Highlanders have their first run with the ball in the match after some great defending to start the game.
1min: Strong start from the Blues as they slowly make ground. After nine phases they get inside the Highlanders half.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Dunedin. The Blues get the match started.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the Highlanders hosting the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 7:30 pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above for the latest episode of the Crooked Feed.
Lineups
Highlanders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Siosuia Halanukonuka, 4. Alex Ainley, 5.Tom Franklin, 6. Elliot Dixon, 7. Dillon Hunt, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Marty Banks, 11. Patrick Osborne, 12. Richard Buckman, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Tevita Li, 15. Ben Smith (c)
Reserves - 16. Greg Pleasants-Tate,17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Siate Tokolahi, 19. Joe Wheeler, 20. Liam Squire, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Fletcher Smith, 23. Matt Faddes
Blues
1. Pauliasi Manu, 2. James Parsons (c), 3. Charlie Faumuina, 4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5. Scott Scrafton, 6. Jerome Kaino, 7. Blake Gibson, 8. Steven Luatua, 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. Piers Francis, 11. Melani Nanai, 12. George Moala, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. Matt Duffie, 15. Michael Collins
Reserves - 16. Matt Moulds, 17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi,18. Sione Mafileo, 19. Patrick Tuipulotu, 20. Akira Ioane, 21. Billy Guyton, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Sonny Bill Williams
Match facts and stats
Referee: Jamie Nutbrown
Assistants: Mike Fraser and James Doleman
TMO: Shane McDermott
The Highlanders have won seven of their last 10 games against the Blues, after having lost six in a row against them prior to that run.
The Highlanders have won each of their last four home games against the Blues, though they’ve come by an average margin of just seven points.
Four of the last five New Zealand derbies have been decided by a margin of fewer than 10 points.
The Blues have won just one of their last 22 away games within New Zealand; that win came back in Round 2, 2013 against the Hurricanes.
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 28, Highlanders 12, Blues 16, draws 0
In Dunedin: Played 13, Highlanders 8, Blues 5, draws 0
Last time played: Highlanders 16 def Blues 12, March 11, 2017
Last time in Dunedin: Highlanders 30 def Blues 24, April 18, 2015
Head-to-head: Highlanders - $1.42 Blues - $2.85
Pre-match banter - Opinion: All Blacks end-of-year tour prospects
By John Day
OPINION: The All Blacks are set to unleash plenty of bolters on the end-of-year tour with two non-Test matches on the cards against the Barbarians and a yet-to-be-named French side.
Coach Steve Hansen gave the likes of Jordie and Scott Barrett, Rieko Ioane and Vaea Fifita their first taste of the All Blacks environment last year, so who should get a call-up in 2017?
Mitchell Drummond - Crusaders halfback
With Tawera Kerr-Barlow taking off at the end of the season, Mitchell Drummond deserves to be the next halfback in the All Blacks pecking order behind Aaron Smith, TJ Perenara and Augustine Pulu.
The 23 year-old Nelson-born number nine has all the right attributes to play at Test level: he's a big man for a halfback at 180 centimetres, has an extremely crisp pass, and is adept both as a starter and as an impact player off the bench.
Michael Fatialofa - Hurricanes lock
Lock is hardly a place that the All Blacks are struggling, with Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Luke Romano, Patrick Tuipulotu, Vaea Fifita and Dominic Bird all in the mix, but Michael Fatialofa is too good to ignore.
The 24 year-old Aucklander spent four seasons in Southland before bursting onto the scene for the Hurricanes last year where he was a massive part of the title-winning team, and has the work-rate and physical attributes to play at the next level.
Richie Mo'unga - Crusaders first-five
The All Blacks will need a third specialist first-five for the end-of-year tour as Aaron Cruden gets set to depart, and Richie Mo'unga should be that man.
The 22-year-old was in the same New Zealand under-20s team as Damien McKenzie and Anton Lienert-Brown in 2014. While he's taken a little bit longer to develop, he's shown for both the Crusaders and Canterbury that he can handle the big stage, and will only get better with the All Blacks - learning off Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga.
Matt Proctor - Hurricanes centre
Another star of the Hurricanes championship-winning team, Matt Proctor's in the middle of a career-best season and is banging down the door to be in the All Blacks end-of-year tour squad.
The 24 year-old's into his fifth season of Super Rugby and the years of tutelage under Conrad Smith are starting to show with Proctor the most defensively sound centre in New Zealand right now, and also an extremely dangerous prospect on attack.
Shaun Stevenson - Chiefs winger
Fast, skilful and with plenty of room to grow, Shaun Stevenson is exactly the type of project that coach Steve Hansen and company would love to get their hands on.
The 20 year-old showed his class at fullback for the New Zealand under-20s last year, and if he can stay fit, the North Shore product would be a perfect candidate to be the next All Blacks apprentice, following in the footsteps of Ardie Savea and Jordie Barrett.
