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Reds 29 - 28 Blues
80 min: Massive turnover for the Reds and that will be all she wrote - a huge win for the men in red. Full Time.
79 min: Blake Gibson wins a turnover and the Blues have the ball going forward.
77 min: TRY - Reds, great attack from the Reds and it's the big man who scores - it's his second of the night, Higginbotham is over. Kick is good. Reds 29 -28 Blues.
76 min: Good bit of attack from the Reds who are now about 30m out.
75 min: Silly from the Blues - they give away a penalty in the Reds 22, it gives them a chance to clear and get rid of the pressure.
72 min: Reds win a penalty at scrum time - Eight minutes to go - they need a converted try.
69 min: After 13 phases the Blues survive the Reds attack and win a penalty - what defence from the visitors.
67 min: Another penalty from the Blues - Dalton Papali'i is sent to the bin.
66 min: No advantage - Reds win a penalty.
65 min: Reds back on the charge - can they put some pressure on the Blues? and finish strong here.
61 min: Tele'a makes a huge break for the Blues but a Nonu knock on ends the attack.
60 min: Another game that is going to come down to the wire - Reds win a penalty around halfway.
55 min: No try - tough call for the Blues, Pulu is penalised for not releasing. Tough call.
51 min: Great work at the breakdown from the Blues - Dalton Papalii winning another penalty.
50 min: Otere Black cleans up well but Nonu takes the ball forward and is called for the knock on. Reds scrum.
49 min: The Reds work the ball down field and look to push for more points - in this hectic match.
46 min: TRY - Blues, off the back of a penalty the Blues score a much needed try - it's the halfback again, Pulu scores. Kick is good. Reds 22 - 28 Blues.
42 min: TRY - Reds, great start from the hosts - a slick back line move sees Bryce Hegarty go over. Kick is good. Reds 22 - 21 Blues.
40 min: Back underway here at Suncorp Stadium.
Half-time.
39 min: Kerevi makes a break but Hodgman holds on to make a great tackle, the Blues win the ball back but the Reds win a penalty. Out in front. Kick is good. Reds 15 - 21 Blues.
37 min: Really good scrum from the Reds as they cruise down field - looking for points before the half - they win a penalty and kick for touch.
33 min: TRY - Reds, too big, too strongand too quick - Taniela Tupou goes over for the try. Kick is good. Reds 12 - 21 Blues.
30 min: The Blues are caught offside and the Reds win a penalty 5m out.
29 min: Just 5m out now the Reds.
26 min: The Reds get the ball and go on the attack - need a big charge here.
23 min: TRY - Blues, what a start to this game - Nonu darts down the right hand side and beats two then finds Pulu who scores for the Blues. Kick is good. Reds 5 - 21 Blues.
21 min: TRY - Reds, massive from Samu Kerevi and the hosts find Scott Higginbotham who dances down the wing and scores. Kick is wide. Reds 5 - 14 Blues.
18 min: TRY - Blues, too easy for the visitors - Akira Ioane with a great offload to Papalii who finds Tanielu Tele'a to score. Kick is good. Reds 0 - 14 Blues.
16 min: Another penalty won by the Blues out in front of the posts - Otere Black messes up the kick and the Reds will have a 22m restart.
14 min: Blues dominating early - they have the lineout throw and the advantage.
10 min: Great defence from the Blues - Papalii wins the penalty.
9 min: The Reds win the ball and go on their own attack, penalty Reds.
7 min: Blues win a penalty after a Reds attack and will kick for touch.
3 min: TRY - Blues, perfect start from the Blues - they get the turnover and throw the ball wide, Blake Gibson finishes the play to score the opener. Kick is good. Reds 0 - 7 Blues.
1 min: Kick off here in Brisbane!
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby match between the Reds and the Blues.
Pre-match banter: Blues missing stars for must-win clash with Reds
With their Super Rugby playoff hopes dangling by a thread, the Blues will enter Friday's must-win encounter with the Reds without four of their biggest names.
All Blacks Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Patrick Tuipulotu and Karl Tu'inukuafe will all miss the trip to Brisbane, where defeat would likely see the Auckland-based side miss the post-season for an eighth straight season.
Williams was due to return from a knee injury this week, after missing the last two months. He was given Wednesday's training session to confirm his availability, but delivered bad news to coach Leon MacDonald.
Former international Ma'a Nonu was due to start on the bench, but has now been promoted to the starting line-up.
Wing Ioane and lock Tuipulotu are both victims of the All Blacks rest policy.
"We had always ear-marked this game as a break for Rieko and Patrick," says MacDonald. "But at the same time, Matt Duffie has been itching to get his chance after a late start to the season and Tanielu [Tele'a] has been strong in his first season."
Prop Tu'inukuafe will miss a third consecutive game through illness.
The Blues also lose promising Caleb Clarke off the other wing, but will be bolstered by the return of fringe international Dalton Papalii to the loose forwards.
The other significant changes come behind the scrum, with Augustine Pulu and Otere Black selected in the nine and 10 jerseys, replacing Jonathan Ruru and Harry Plummer.
Goal-kicking has been a major issue for the Blues this season, with Plummer missing a game-winning penalty attempt after the siren against the Bulls last Friday.
"There's a lot of healthy competition in this team and we have always said that performance will dictate selection," says MacDonald. "That has led to Augie and Otere getting their opportunities."
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-James Parsons, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Scott Scrafton, 6-Dalton Papalii, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Akira Ioane, 9-Augustine Pulu, 10-Otere Black, 11-Tanielu Tele'a, 12-Ma'a Nonu, 13-TJ Faiane, 14-Matt Duffie, 15-Melani Nanai
Reserves: 16-Leni Apisai, 17-Marcel Renata, 18-Lua Li, 19-Tom Robinson, 20-Josh Goodhue, 21-Jonathan Ruru, 22-Harry Plummer, 23-Levi Aumua
Reds: 1-JP Smith, 2-Alex Mafi, 3-Taniela Tupou, 4-Izack Rodda, 5-Angus Blyth, 6-Angus Scott-Young, 7-Liam Wright, 8-Scott Higginbotham, 9-Scott Malolua, 10-Matt McGahan, 11-Filipo Daugunu, 12-Samu Kerevi, 13-Chris Feauai-Sautia, 14-Jock Campbell, 15-Bryce Hegarty
Reserves: 16-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17-Ruan Smith, 18-Gav Luka, 19-Harry Hockings, 20-Adam Korczyk, 21-Moses Sorovi, 22-Duncan Paia’aua, 23-Hamish Stewart
