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Chiefs 26 Highlanders 16
Chiefs - Cane, Narawa & Sowakula tries; Ioane 2 penalties & conversion, Gatland penalty
Highlanders - Lienert-Brown try; Hunt 3 penalties & conversion
Second half
40th minute - Highlanders try to mount one last counterattack and Fakatava storms through midfield, kicking ahead, but unable to sprint past Taukei'aho to score.
With time up, Ah Kuoi is down near halfway, after he was caught underneath a dogpile. He's groggy, as he hobbles slowly to the sideline.
Chiefs drop out from the goal-line, Highlanders desperately try to find a bonus-point score, but lose the ball forward to end the match.
39th minute - Gatland angles a nice kick to the corner, just milking time. Highlanders throw quickly and kick long...
38th minute - Chiefs win an attacking lineout and rumble towards the 22.
37th minute - Hunt kicks off and Chiefs clear. Gilbert dashes back over halfway for the Highlanders, but Fakatava is penalised for holding on in the tackle.
36th minute - Gatland slots the penalty, CHI 26-16
34th minute - Lowe steps inside and Chiefs edge towards the posts. Cane is held up out wide, but Chiefs put together 16 phases, before earning penalty advantage in front of the posts.
Three points would put them clear of the converted try, so Gatland will line up the kick...
33rd minute - From the scrum, Tupaea bursts into the 22 and Chiefs pile on the pressure.
31st minute - Chiefs on attack and Sowakula offloads to Lowe. Ah Kuoi gallops down the sideline, but they're called back for a Highlanders knock-on.
29th minute - TRY to Lienert-Brown
Marshall's throw is good and Gregory busts in midfield. Highlanders forwards are close to the line and Lienert-Brown is driven over for the try.
Hunt converts, CHI 23-16
27th minute - Retallick is off, replaced by Ah Kuoi. Chiefs scrum goes down and the Highlanders have another prime attacking chance from a lineout.
25th minute - Highlanders into Chiefs 22, with Fakatava and Mikaele-Tu'u prominent. When the ball goes left, Paea flicks on a quick pass and the flanker has space down the sideline to score, but the try is disallowed, when Paea's pass is ruled forward.
23rd minute - Marshall replaces Coltman at hooker for the Highlanders. Fakatava pumps a high kick into Chiefs territory and Stevenson can't secure possession.
Highlanders have the scrum for knock-on.
22nd minute - Retallick rumbles into the Highlanders 22, Tupaea bursts towards the line, but the Chiefs are penalised and Hunt clears towards halfway.
Hohneck replaces Ainsley in the Highlanders front row.
21st minute - Highlanders try to break out of their own half, but a loose pass is plucked by Boshier and Chiefs stream onto attack.
20th minute - Highlanders have a second attacking scrum, but the Chiefs turn it and win a clearing penalty.
17th minute - Hunt throws a long pass towards Gregory's wing, but overcooks it. They're playing advantage and Highlanders have a scrum in front of the posts.
16th minute - Smith seems a little incredulous that he's been hooked so early. Highlanders have a lineout throw on the Chiefs 22 and throw long.
They storm the Chiefs goal-line, but good defence from the Chiefs.
15th minute - Hunt fields a high Weber kick and Highlanders win a clearing penalty at the breakdown. Fakatava is poised to replace Aaron Smith early, as Highlanders seek a spark.
14th minute - Bryn Evans replaces Selby-Rickit in the Highlanders second row.
13th minute - Taukeiaiho, Gatland, Weber and Ta'avao come on for the Chiefs, but their scrum is shunted back. Weber barely finds touch.
11th minute - Chiefs lose another lineout throw, gifting the ball back to the Highlanders. Tauke'aiho warms up on the sideline.
10th minute - Highlanders bring on Lienert-Brown and Makaele-Tu'u among the forwards. They go on attack from the kickoff, but are ruled offside and Chiefs clear.
Seventh minute - TRY to Narawa
Stevenson slices through the Highlanders defence up out right, sending Sowakula over the 22, and when the ball comes left, Retallick draws the final line of defence, before throwing an outrageous no-look, behind-the-back pass to his fullback to score.
Ioane slices his conversion attempt, CHI 23-9
Sixth minute - Evans secures the kickoff and Highlanders clear to halfway, where Chiefs mount an attack through Sowakula.
Fourth minute - Chiefs steal a Highlanders lineout, but concede a midfield penalty at the breakdown. Hunt will line up a 40m penalty and slots it, CHI 18-9
Third minute - From the scrum, Roe kicks low into the Highlanders half, sparking a game of forceback, which ends when Ioane finds touch near halfway.
Second minute - Highlanders mount an attack, but Dickson knocks on. Thomas Umaga-Jensen has come off the Highlanders bench for Dawai.
First minute - Ioane kicks off for the second half and Smith pumps a high clearance, allowing his team to regain possession.
Ioane's clearance doesn't find much relief. Jacobson has been replaced by Kaylum Boshier on the side of the Chiefs scrum.
First half
40th minute - Hunt kicks off, Sowakula secures the ball and passes to Ioane, who finds touch for halftime.
39th minute - Ainsley is penalised for obstruction and Chiefs take an attacking scrum, rather than the lineout, which has let them down badly so far.
TRY to Sowokula
The Chiefs No.8 fakes right and runs a left shortside, hurdling the final defender to score in the corner. Ioane hooks his wideout converstion attempt, CHI 18-6
38th minute - Ioane throws a long, marginal pass left and Gilbert is guilty of lifting in the tackle. Ioane finds corner touch for a lineout, but the Chiefs just can't win one.
37th minute - Gilbert is deemed to have knocked on a high bomb near his own 22, so Chiefs have an attacking scrum.
35th minute - Highlanders control the scrum, but Hunt finds Cane bearing down on him and badly hooks his clearance. Chiefs throw-in, but they lose another one and Hunt's clearance is much better this time.
34th minute - Slater's long throw is knocked on in the lineout, so Highlanders have a defensive scrum.
32nd minute - Highlanders regain possession from the kickoff and mount an attack, but the ball goes loose and and Roe clears deep into Highlanders territory. That's a 50-22, so Chiefs throw-in.
30th minute - Long run from Stevenson down the right touchline and both Highlanders locks are caught offside, providing Ioane another shot at goal, which he converts, CHI 13-6
29th minute - Ioane throws a long pass behind his own goal-line and Retallick continues the move into the field of play - brave stuff. Eventually, the Chiefs win a clearing penalty and Ioane finds the Highlanders half.
28th minute - Frizzell makes a dent in midfield, but the Highlanders attack stalls, when they lose the ball. Gilbert fields a clearing kick in his own half and returns to the Chiefs half.
27th minute - Highlanders win a clearing penalty at a collapsed maul on their 22, but they gain another 10 metres, when McWhannell disputes the call. Aaron Smith approves the ref's call.
25th minute - Jacobson wins a lineout and Chiefs mount more pressure just outside the 22. The ball comes loose and Highlanders bust out..
24th minute - Ioane kicks to the corner and it dribbles into touch. Coltman throws long and Gregory sets up the clearance from Hunt.
23rd minute - Ball is bobbled in midfield and Highlanders have knocked on first, presenting Chiefs with attacking scrum just outside the 22.
22nd minute - Jacobson is receiving medical attention for a leg injury, allowing both teams to take an unofficial quarter-time break in their season-opener.
He's back in the Chiefs scrum, but Hunt clears from the Highlanders 22.
21st minute - Good continuity from the Chiefs has them hot on attack, but Narawa can't take a pass on the right, with the line beckoning.
20th minute - Stevenson kicks long downfield, but Dawai is there to tidy up and clear beyond the 22. Evans steals the Chiefs lineout throw...
19th minute - From the kickoff, Dickson hasn't rolled away from the breakdown and Ioane clears for the Chiefs.
17th minute - TRY to Cane
Sowokula passes off the back of the scrum and Roe stays alive with the ball, finding Nankivell, who has Cane running off the side of the scrum. He rolls over to score, Ioane converts from in front, CHI 10-6
16th minute - Chiefs steal the ball on the Highlanders 22 and eventually win a scrum for knock-on by de Groot.
14th minute - Hunt lines up a kick at goal from just outside the 22 and slots it, HIG 6-3
13th minute - Smith steals a ruck ball off Retallick and Highlanders stream onto attack. They're playing advantage for offside by Nankivell.
12th minute - Smith clears the Highlanders 22, but Ioane pumps a midfield bomb and follows fast to tackle Hunt near the Highlanders 22.
Ninth minute - Highlanders get the ball in attacking position and are playing advantage, after Chiefs fail to release in a ruck. Just beyond the 22, Hunt points to the posts and levels the score, 3-3
Eighth minute - Long midfield pass from Tupaea goes astray and the Chiefs lose ground. Ioane clears near halfway.
Seventh minute - From the kickoff, Ioane's clearance is fielded by Dawai, who is held up in the maul. Chiefs win the turnover.
Fifth minute - Chiefs win the lineout and win another penalty for offside on the 22. Ioane will line up a kick at goal and slots it, CHI 3-0
Fourth minute - Jacobson wins a lineout and Highlanders are offside at the maul. Chiefs win the first penalty of the game and Ioane kicks to the corner for an attacking lineout.
Second minute - Chiefs forwards batter their way across halfway, Ioane angle kicks for the corner, Dawai finds touch near halfway.
First minute - Mitch Hunt kicks off for the Highlanders and Ioane clears for the Chiefs. Knock-on by the Landers forces the game's first scrum already.
4:32pm - Conditions are cool in Queenstown, with some rain making the Wakatipu club ground slick. There's a veil of low cloud over the Southern Alps.
Highlanders seem to be wearing Southland colours today, Chiefs a more traditional strip.
*****
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Chiefs and Highlanders at Queenstown.
Originally, scheduled for Hamilton's FMG Stadium, this fixture was transferred to the southern tourist resort, after COVID-19 force the country into 'red light' status, with the NZ Super Rugby teams creating their own bubbles.
Last time these two teams met in Super Rugby Aotearoa last March, an extra-time penalty from Damian McKenzie edged the Chiefs to a 26-23 victory at Dunedin, en route to a finals berth against the Crusaders.
On this occasion, Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan has elected to start All Blacks halfback Brad Weber off the bench, behind Waikato No.9 Xavier Roe, while one-test international Josh Ioane will start at first-five against the franchise he has logged 43 games for previously.
The Highlanders are the least favoured of the NZ teams for Super Rugby Pacific honours, but will be driven from halfback by All Blacks kingpin Aaron Smith.
TAB Odds: Chiefs $1.40, Highlanders $2.80
Chiefs: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Laghlan McWhannell, 5-Brodie Retallick, 6- Luke Jacobson, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Quinn Tupaea, 13-Alex Nankivell, 14-Shaun Stevenson, 15-Emoni Narawa
Reserves: 16-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17-Atu Moli, 18-Angus Ta’avao, 19-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 20-Kaylum Boshier, 21-Brad Weber, 22-Bryn Gatland, 23-Chase Tiatia
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Gareth Evans, 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Josh TImu, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Mosese Dawai, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Bryn Evans, 20-Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Thomas Umaga-Jensen
Wakatipu local legends make way for Super Rugby stars in Queenstown bubble
Super Rugby Pacific kicks off in New Zealand, with the Highlanders taking on the Chiefs at Queenstown's Wakatipu Rugby Club.
The small Central Otago club ground will become a focal point of at least the first three rounds of this year's competition and the Wakatipu premier side have enjoyed one last pre-season hitout before their home turf gets hijacked.
On Saturday, the local legends will be swapped for the likes of Sam Cane and Aaron Smith.
"I can't wait to do it for real," says Smith. "These pre-season games are fun, but nothing like playing for points."
Although no fans are allowed inside, with elevated streets surrounding the ground, the Highlanders hope a few locals will show up.
"Whilst there's no crowds allowed, I'm sure if you park up your car, you can probably look over the fence," suggests Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody.
The idea does appeal to curious bystanders.
"Maybe a brew or two and peaking over," says one. "It's all good."
"Yeah, we'll watch, for sure," says another.
Even the Queenstown Mayor is keen.
"I'm sure the hills around here are going to have a lot of binoculars watching the game," says Jim Boult.
It's a strange way to end what has been an equally strange build-up to the Super Rugby season.
"Never thought I'd be kicking off a round in Queenstown, but here we are," says Chiefs co-captain Brad Weber.
Here they are indeed, with Super Rugby now calling this club ground home for the next three weeks at least.
Gordon Findlater
