App users click here for the latest updates.
Highlanders 59 Waratahs 23
Highlanders - Collins, Tomkinson, 2 De Groot, Dixon, 2 Nareki, Himeno, Ben-Nicholas tries; Hunt 7 conversions
Waratahs - Maddocks, Nawaqanitawase tries; Harrison 2 conversions, 3 penalty goals
Live updates have concluded for this event. Click here for a full match wrap and highlights.
Full time
80+1 mins
From the lineout, the Highlanders hit the ball up but a big tackle from Swinton forces a knock-on and that will be full time.
80 mins
The Waratahs are looking to attack from inside their 22 before Harrison kicks it off downfield. After four phases, Ioane kicks it down to the 22 and into touch.
The Waratahs take it quickly and attack as the siren goes. They get down to halfway but they give away a breakdown penalty and the Highlanders will have one last attack opportunity from a lineout on the 22.
77 mins - Try Highlanders to Teariki Ben-Nicholas
From a strong Highlanders scrum, Teariki Ben-Nicholas breaks off the back and is brought down inches short but the big No.8 reaches out to score.
Hunt converts the try. (HIG 59-23)
75 mins
The Waratahs look to attack on halfway. Maddocks fires a wide pass but it's intercepted by Sam Gilbert who sprints down to the 22. The Highlanders come wide to Gregory who looks like he is going to score in the corner but is dragged into touch.
The Waratahs make a meal of the lineout and knock the ball on to give the Highlanders a scrum five metres out.
73 mins - Try Highlanders to Jona Nareki
What a try from the Highlanders to bring up the half-century. The Highlanders come wide to Hunt who dummies and takes the ball to the line before offloading to Ioane who breaks clear. He draws and passes the final defender for Jona Nareki to score in the corner.
Hunt nails the conversion from the sideline. (HIG 52-23)
69 mins
The Highlanders make a meal of their lineout and Gordon clears to just outside the 22. Ioane brings the ball back on the counter-attack but knocks the ball on and the Waratahs will have a scrum just outside their 22.
66 mins
The Waratahs are looking to build their attack but it's getting messy and they knock the ball on just inside their own half.
The Highlanders will have a scrum 40-metres out, which dominate to win the penalty. They will have a lineout inside the 22.
64 mins - Try Highlanders to Kazuki Himeno
The Highlanders set the lineout maul again. After initially defending it well the Waratahs, the home side's maul gets a second wind and it powers over perfectly with captain Kazuki Himeno crashing over.
Hunt's conversion hits the post and misses so the try is unconverted. (HIG 45-23)
61 mins
The Highlanders set the lineout maul and it goes just a few metres short. With the referee playing advantage, Hunt goes for the cross-field kick but it's charged down and the home side will have a penalty.
The Highlanders go for the lineout and again it's just five metres out.
60 mins
From the lineout, the Waratahs backline comes up to fast and is offside to give away the penalty. The Highlanders go for touch and have a lineout just five metres out.
59 mins
From the lineout, Andrew Tuala breaks through the defence and gets down to the 22. The Waratahs build their attack but it gets messy with passes going to ground.
After five phases, Nareki wins a breakdown penalty and the home side will have a lineout on their 10-metre line.
56 mins
The Waratahs dominate at the scrum to win the penalty and will give themselves a lineout just five metres out.
The visitors overthrow the lineout and the Highlanders clear down to halfway for another lineout to the visitors.
55 mins
Swinton makes a strong run off the back of the lineout and he looks to offload but it goes to a Highlanders player to ease the pressure.
The home side clear down to Maddocks who takes it and offloads to Lalakai Foketi. He makes a mini-break and fires a ball back inside but the Waratahs can't handle it. The home side will have a scrum just outside their 22.
53 mins
Harrison puts a perfect chip kick over the top for Perese to gather and he's brought down just short of the 22. The visitors get fast ball and come wide to Tizzano who gets a bad pass.
It bounces off his hand to Newsome who offloads to Maddocks who crashes over but replays show Tizzano has knocked the ball on but he was tackled early so the Waratahs will have a penalty and go for a lineout that is just 10-metres out.
51 mins
The Highlanders are building their attack inside the Waratahs half with Harmon making a strong run. After four phases, Himeno knocks the ball on in contact and the visitors will have a scrum just short of their 10-metre line.
49 mins
The Waratahs have an attacking opportunity just inside the Highlanders half and Izaia Perese breaks through the defence and gets down to the 22.
At the ruck, he leaves the ball but there is no halfback so Himeno picks it up and kicks downfield and into touch on the 10-metre line.
46 mins - Try Highlanders to Ethan De Groot
The Highlanders have the first try of the second half. The Waratahs overthrow their lineout to turn possession over and invite pressure on the visitors. After four phases, Ethan De Groot smashes his way over for his second try to open up the first major lead of the contest.
Hunt converts the try. (HIG 40-23)
44 mins
The Highlanders attack through the lineout and come wide to Tomkinson who makes a mini-break and holds the ball slightly too long before offloading to Nareki who is dragged into touch.
43 mins
From the lineout, the Waratahs hit the ball up but at the breakdown, Himeno wins a breakdown penalty and the Highlanders will have a lineout just inside the 22.
42 mins
The Highlanders get the first opportunity to attack with the ball and a long pass to Nareki who is in space but the wing can't handle it and it goes into touch.
The Waratahs will have a lineout on halfway
Kickoff - The Highlanders get the second half underway.
40 mins - Try Highlanders to Jona Nareki
What a finish to the first half as the Highlander crash over. The home side will have one final attack opportunity before halftime with Nareki making a strong run down to the 22. After 10-phases, Collins throws the money ball to Nareki who gets outside of Maddocks who prodcues a bad read in defence to allow the electirc wing to crash over in the corner.
Hunt converts the try as the siren goes and that will be halftime. (HIG 33-23)
39 mins - Penalty Goal Waratahs to Will Harrison
The Waratahs are building their attack on the 22 but after nine phases of resolute Highlanders defence, the attack comes to nothing. The referee was playing advantage and the Waratahs will have a shot at goal.
From right in front and only 25-metres out, Harrison has nailed it. (HIG 26-23)
36 mins
The Highlanders clear straight from the kickoff and the Waratahs set their attack just short of halfway. After four phases, Ethan De Groot gives away a breakdown penalty for hands in the rucks.
The visitors will have a lineout just short of the 22.
33 mins - Try Highlanders to Ash Dixon
The Highlanders set their trademark lineout maul, which they execute perfectly to see Ash Dixon crash over at the back over it.
Hunt converts the try from the sideline. (HIG 26-20)
31 mins
The Highlanders are building their attack just inside the Waratahs half. The visitor's defence is standing strong and forces the home side into a kick that goes down the throat of Harrison but he puts it down.
The Highlanders will have a scrum just inside the 22, which they dominate to win the penalty and they choose to have a lineout five metres out.
29 mins - Penalty goal Waratahs to Will Harrison
After a scrappy piece of play, the Waratahs have a scrum just inside the Highlanders half and the visitors dominate to win the penalty.
Harrison will have a shot at goal from 45-metres out and he nails it to put his side back in front. (WAR 20-19)
26 mins
The Highlanders are attacking through the small numbers in their lineout but after six phases, Ethan De Groot knocks the ball on in contact to ease the pressure.
The Waratahs have a lineout just 10-metres out.
24 mins
The Highlanders are continuing their attack mindset with Nareki putting a chip kick over the top and as he locks to regather he is taken early by Gordon to win the penalty.
The home side will have a lineout just inside the 22.
22 mins -Try Highlanders to Ethan De Groot
The Highlanders have hit bacs as the tires keep coming. From the lineout, the home sides forward go close on two occasions before Ethan De Groot smashes his way over.
Hunt can't convert the try. (HIG 19-17)
19 mins
The Waratahs again struggle to clear their lines from the kickoff. This time at the breakdown as the visitors set up to clear, the home side wins a breakdown penalty and they will have a lineout 10-metres out.
18 mins - Try Waratahs to Mark Nawaqanitawase
The tries keep coming in this encounter. Jack Maddocks puts a high kick up that Hunt can't handle and ends up with Jack Dempsey who offloads to David Porecki. He gets up to the 22 before offloading to Mark Nawaqanitawase to score in the corner.
Harrison converts the try. (HIG 17-14)
16 mins - Try Highlanders to Patelesio Tomkinson
The Highlanders hit back straight away. The home side set the lineout drive but the Waratahs defend it well and force the home side to go to the backs.
A poor pass from Hammington forces his side back to clean up and at the next phase, the Highlanders find Patelesio Tomkinson who beats two defenders to crash his way over.
Hunt converts the try. (HIG 14-10)
14 mins
As the Waratahs set up to clear, Gordon's clearing kick is charged down. Nareki gathers the loose ball and is tackled high to win his side a penalty.
The Highlanders will have a lineout 10-metres out.
12 mins - Try Waratahs to Jack Maddocks
After a couple of phases of attack, Will Harrison fires a wide-cut out pass to Jack Maddocks who gets on the outside of Nareki and he has too much speed and goes over in the corner.
Harrison converts the try from the sideline to give the Waratahs the lead. (WAR 10-7)
10 mins
From the kickoff, Mark Nawaqanitawase unleashes a long kick downfield that is touched by a Highlanders player. The ball goes into touch just short of the 22 to give the Waratahs a brilliant attacking position.
9 mins - Penalty goal Highlanders to Will Harrison
The Waratahs have set their attack just inside the Highlanders half. The visitors are moving side to side but the home side's defence is standing firm. After eight phases, the attack comes to nothing but the referee was playing advantage and the Waratahs will have a shot at goal.
Harrison nails the penalty goal from 35-metres out. (HIG 7-3)
6 mins
The Highlanders steal the lineout and are onto the attack. After five phases, the Waratahs win a breakdown penalty and Harrison will give his side a lineout on the home sides 10-metre line.
5 mins
The Highlanders look here to play as they attack straight from the kickoff. They work the ball up to just short of halfway before Hammington kicks in behind to go into touch just of the 22.
3 mins - Try Highlanders to Michael Collins
The Highlanders have made a perfect start with a try straight off the training ground. From the lineout, the home side works a great backline move. Mitch Hunt delivers an inside ball to Tomkinson who makes a mini-break before offloading to Michael Collins to crash over.
Hunt converts the try. (HIG 7-0)
2 mins
The Waratahs get first use of the ball as they attack on halfway but at the first ruck, the visitors give away a breakdown penalty and Hunt gives the Highlanders a lineout just inside the 22.
Kickoff - The Waratahs get this contest underway.
7:03pm - Ash Dixon has lead the Highlanders out onto Forsyth Barr as they look to keep their faint Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final hopes alive.
6:58pm - The Highlanders have won their last five Super Rugby home matches on the bounce against the Waratahs, so come into this contest with confidence.
6:55pm - We are just 10-minutes from kickoff under the roof in Dunedin. Damon Murphy will be the man in charge of this contest.
*****
Kia ora and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash between the Highlanders and NSW Waratahs at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Highlanders come into their round four clash six points off the competition-leading Blues and will need a bonus-point victory to keep them in the hunt for a grand final spot.
The southerners started the trans-Tasman competition with a convincing victory over the Reds, before edging past an impressive Force side in Perth.
Their round three clash against the Rebels was moved from Queenstown to Sydney, due to the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, but that didn't stop the Dunedin side making it three from three.
The Waratahs are still searching for their first victory in 2021, after going winless in Super Rugby AU.
They suffered a 16-point defeat in the 17-try thriller against the Hurricanes in the opening round, before two comprehensive losses to the Blues and Crusaders.
Even with the Waratahs winless, the Sydney side will bring some confidence into this encounter, as they hold the wood over their trans-Tasman neighbours.
They have won 15 of the 25 matches in 25 years of Super Rugby and even more impressively, they've won six of the 12 matches in Dunedin.
TAB odds: Highlanders $1.03, Waratahs $10.00
Highlanders: 1-Ethan De Groot, 2-Ash Dixon, 3-Siate Tokolahi, 4-Pari Pari Parkinson, 5-Bryn Evans, 6-James Lentjes, 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Kazuki Himeno, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Michael Collins, 14-Patelesio Tomkinson, 15-Josh Ioane
Reserves: 16-Liam Coltman, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Josh Dickson, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-James Arscott, 22-Sam Gilbert, 23-Teariki Ben-Nicholas
Waratahs: 1-Andrew Tuala, 2-David Porecki, 3-Darcy Breen, 4-Jeremy Williams, 5-Jack Whetton, 6-Lachlan Swinton, 7-Carlo Tizzano, 8-Jack Dempsey, 9-Jake Gordon (c), 10-Will Harrison, 11-Mark Nawaqanitawase, 12-Lalakai Foketi, 13-Izaia Perese, 14-Alex Newsome 15-Jack Maddocks,
Reserves: 16-Robbie Abel, 17-Chris Talakai, 18-Chris Talakai, 19-Sam Caird, 20-Will Harris, 21-Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco 22-Jack Grant, 23-Tane Edmed
"Out of our hands now': Robertson rues missed bonus point
You'd be hard pressed to tell Crusaders Scott Robertson was a coach whose undefeated side has just recorded a 29-21 win over Western Force in Christchurch.
Despite registering their fourth victory in as many Super Rugby Trans-Tasman contests, the Crusaders were cruelly denied a critical bonus point, courtesy of a try in the dying stages to Force substitute Jordan Olowofela.
Robertson realises just how costly that missed opportunity may be, as they try to separate themselves from the pack of four undefeated Kiwi teams, entering the final week of the competition.
"That could be the comp," Robertson says. "Pretty quickly, it can change.
"A little bit out of our hands now. We'll be watching, just like everyone else."
The manner of that final try will also sting. After a sustained period of tryline pressure from the Crusaders, the Force nabbed a turnover and found acres of unprotected space with a deep kick for Olowofela to take advantage of.
"We were calling from the box, get back there, Joshy [McKay], or whoever it was," Robertson recalls.
"Just get back there and cover the backfield. They just saw space and took it.
"We defended so doggedly for long periods of time, and then that quick turnover and bang, that was it.
"It was a great turnover and obviously they stayed in the fight, but we could've been better with our game management."
A bonus-point win for the Hurricanes over the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday night would lift them atop the table to join the Blues in pole position for the final.
The Blues were also unable to win a bonus point in their 31-24 win over the Reds in Brisbane.
