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Full-time
Highlanders 36 (Frizell 2, Hunt, B Smith & Thompson tries, Ioane four conversions & penalty) Reds 31 (Fotuaika, Rodda, Sorovi & Feauai-Sautia tries, Hegarty penalty & four conversions)
Second half
80th minute - From the lineout, Ruan Smith surges forward, but Faddes rips the ball from his grasp and the Highlanders clear.
The siren goes, but Reds lose the lineout and Banks kicks the ball into the stand to end the game. Great comeback win - their second in a row - but also a great performance from the young Reds team.
79th minute - Reds win a defensive penalty, so one last chance for them to snatch victory.
77th minute - Highlanders just need to control the ball now to retain their winning streak at home - it's 12 games, but this will be 13.
74th minute - TRY! Faddes makes a break down the right touch-line and finds Ben Smith inside him.
Smith should have pinned his ears back, but feeds Walden, who is brought down short. The ball spreads left for Hunt to cross with an overlap.
Ioane bends his conversion around for the extras. Highlanders 36-31.
72nd minute - Highlanders on attack, but a pass goes forward to Ben Smith and the chance is lost.
70th minute - Frizell is replaced by Mikaele Tu’u and Hammington comes on for Aaron Smith. That's two key substitutes with 10 minutes left and Highlanders trailling.
69th minute - Frizell threatens again and makes a half-break, but passes outside to Petaia and Hegarty clears for the Reds.
68th minute - Ioane kicks deep and the ball holds up a couple of metres out from the line. Korovi clears, but the Highlanders won that exchange.
65th minute - Reds are showing good continuity and draw a penalty on halfway, centrefield. They look to touch again, but the lineout throw is crooked.
63rd minute - Reds are threatening again, really testing the Highlanders defence, but a stray pass goes forward to let the home team off the hook.
Walden comes back on after his head injury assessment, Banks leaves.
61st minute - Highlanders are hammering at the Reds defence and are only five metres out, when they're penalised, allowing their opponents to clear.
Petaia made a big tackle on Frizell in that sequence.
59th minute - TRY! Reds win the lineout, but the forwards are held up short of the line.
They continue to plug at the line, they lose the ball, but it goes backwards. Ref is playing advantage against Aaron Smith, but eventually prop Feao Fotuaika dives across to tie the scores.
Hegarty slots the conversion to take the lead. Tokolahi and Whetton are on for Highlanders.
55th minute - Hegarty puts a high kick that's tidied up in-goal, but the ref has penalised Highlanders in the lineout. Stewart looks to touch again.
54th minute - So the Highlanders' centre pairing have both left the field. The Reds kick deep and Ben Smith can't tidy it up - he concedes and attacking lineout.
Ash Dixon replaces Coltman.
52nd minute - Marty Banks is now on the field for the Highlanders, replacing Walden. They lose the ball on attack and the Reds clear.
49th minute - TRY! Josh Dixon makes a break for the Highlanders, but Walden can't gather a pass with the try-line beckoning. He's flattened and the Reds break out.
Sorovi goes to ground just a few metres out, but finds Rodda in support to score. Remember, he's still mourning his dad, who died this week. Hegarty converts, Highlanders 29-24.
46th minute - Timu is held up a couple of metres out from the line, but ref is playing advantage and awards a penalty to Reds. They kick to touch, but Highlanders win the lineout and clear.
45th minute - Petaia makes another long run to put the Reds hot on attack.
43rd minute - TRY! Highlanders win the lineout and the forwards again rumble towards the line. Frizell has Hunt and Johnston pushing him over the line for his second try tonight.
Ioane hits the upright with his conversion attempt - that's his first miss of the season, after 10 straight.
41st minute - Aaron Smith milks an off-side penalty and Ioane finds a deep touch, looking for another try.
41st minute - Ioane kicks off for the Highlanders to start the second half.
First half
40th minute - The siren goes for half-time and Highlanders are probably worth their lead. Reds have shown some ability and aren't out of the contest yet.
They've stolen four lineouts against the throw and it wouldn't be surprising to see Ash Dixon replace Coltman early in the second half.
38th minute - Coltman loses his fourth lineout throw this half, not a great display from the All Blacks hooker.
TRY! Reds capitalise, launching a counterattack and halfback Sorovi is on the end of the movement to cross for a try. There was a dodgy pass in there, but maybe we're even now.
Hegarty converts, Highlanders 24-17.
34th minute - TRY! From a lineout, Faddes slices through the defence. Josh Dixon gets close to the line, but when the Highlanders backs get the ball, they have numbers to burn and Ben Smith has a man outside him when he dives over.
Replays show the initial pass from Aaron Smith to Faddes was forward, but too late to change the score. Ioane slots the conversion, Highlanders 24-10.
32nd minute - Reds are on attack, but Frizell dominates the breakdown to win a relieving penalty. Reds are looking tired already.
30th minute - TRY! Highlanders win the lineout five metres out and rumble. From a metre out, Frizell lunges to the line and the ref eventually finds a position where he can see ball on the ground, perhaps with help from the linesman.
Ioane converts, Highlanders 17-10.
28th minute - Faddes makes a break and flicks a pass inside to Frizell, who finds Aaron Smith next. Reds are whistled for off-side and Ioane looks to touch near the line.
25th minute - TRY! With possession from the lineout, Reds apply some pressure and Feauai-Sautia brushes off Li's tackle to stroll over. Hegarty converts to tie the scores at 10-10.
22nd minute - Highlanders now have a lineout in their 22. Coltman loses his second straight throw and Reds are in great attacking position.
20th minute - Highlanders draw an off-side penalty, but Ben Smith takes a quick tap. They string together some phases, but the move breaks down when Smith spills a long, low pass just a few metres out.
Thompson is helped off with what looks like a knee injury, Matt Faddes replaces him.
15th minute - Better scrum from the Highlanders this time, Reds kick deep, but the home side break out again. When Petaia knocks down a pass, he concedes a penalty and is lucky to stay on the field.
Ioane slots the goal to extend the lead. Highlanders 10-3.
12th minute - Reds were impressive in their first scrum and Highlanders really struggled to clear. Here comes the second scrum - what will happen here?
Reds get the push on again, but Highlanders spread it and break out.
Ninth minute - Petaia makes a long run out of his own half, but when Li brings him down, there's a knock-on.
Sixth minute - TRY! Dixon wins the lineout throw and the Highlanders rumble towards the line.
When Smith feeds the backs, Thompson runs an angle off Ben Smith's pass to cross in a tackle. Ioane converts from in front. Highlanders 7-3.
Fifth minute - Both sides are stringing together some phases, but Highlanders win a penalty just a few metres out from the goal-line and kick for touch.
Second minute - Reds get the first chance to score, as the home side are penalised at the breakdown near centrefield and 40 metres out.
Hegarty slots it to open the account. Reds 3-0.
First minute - The Otago University scarfies have packed 'The Zoo' at Forsyth Barr, providing the Highladers with tremendous support in their first home game of the season.
Reds kick off, with fullback Hegarty doing the honours.
*****
7:24pm - Reds lock Izack Rodda will take his place in the line-up tonight, despite the death of his dad only two days ago, since he arrived in Dunedin.
That's gotta be tough for him - great effort for the young man.
*****
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Highlanders vs Reds Super Rugby clash from Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
The southerners will be feeling pretty good about themselves, after edging the Chiefs last week, one man short, and now back in front of their home fans.
They've shuffled around their team, especially their pack, with nine All Blacks named in their starting line-up.
- Red-card bungle: Super Rugby admits 'wrong decision'
- Ash Dixon hoping for students surge on Friday vs Reds
The biggest move will see Aaron Smith taking the number nine jersey - his impact late against the Chiefs was enormous and he already looks sharper than he did for most of last year.
Waisake Naholo also makes his season debut and he will need to hit the ground running, after losing ground on his rivals for the All Blacks wing position on the northern hemisphere tour.
The Reds had the first-round bye last week, so they'll want to start their campaign with a win. Coach Brad Thorn made a stand to change the team culture last season, so he will need his team to build on that in 2019.
Joins at 7:30pm for kick-off.
*****
Pre-match banter: Highlanders ring changes against Reds
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger has re-arranged his forward pack for their second-round Super Rugby clash with the Reds on Friday.
After their late short-handed victory over the Chiefs last week, the Dunedin-based outfit has rung the changes, introducing All Blacks stars Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo to the starting line-up.
International Jackson Hemopo moves from blindside flanker to lock, making way for fellow All Black Shannon Frizell, with a third NZ performer - Dillon Hunt - promoted to the number seven jersey.
The Highlanders lost midfielder Sio Tomkinson to a controversial red card in their season-opener and there's no room for him in the line-up this week, pending a judicial outcome.
"The Reds will bring a lot of energy and physicality to the encounter," says Mauger. "History shows it's always a tough game for us.
"The team is excited to be at home in front of our own fans for the first time this season and no doubt, the players will draw some energy from their support."
TAB Odds: Highlanders $ 1.07 Reds $8.50
Highlanders: 1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Jackson Hemopo, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Dillon Hunt, 8-Luke Whitelock (cc), 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Tevita Li, 12-Teihorangi Walden, 13-Rob Thompson, 14-Waisake Naholo, 15-Ben Smith (cc)
Reserves: 16- Ash Dixon, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Siate Tokolahi, 19-Jack Whetton, 20-Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 21-Kayne Hammington, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Matt Faddes
Reds: 1-Feao Fotuaika, 2-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3-Taniela Tupou, 4-Izack Rodda (vc), 5-Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6-Angus Scott-Young, 7-Liam Wright, 8-Caleb Timu, 9-Moses Sorovi, 10-Hamish Stewart, 11-Sefa Naivalu, 12-Samu Kerevi (c), 13-Jordan Petaia, 14-Chris Feauai-Sautia, 15-Bryce Hegarty
Reserves: 16-Alex Mafi, 17-Harry Hoopert, 18-Ruan Smith, 19-Harry Hockings, 20-Fraser McReight, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Duncan Paia’aua, 23-Isaac Lucas
