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Blues 32 Highlanders 20
FULLTIME - BLUES WIN
Dawai has gone down injured. Into the 90th minute now.
Highlanders lineout, Makalio throws. He throws over the top, but Vikena knocks it on.
IT'S FINALLY OVER!
90 mins
Perofeta kicks into touch and we'll have another lineout - eight additional minutes so far.
Vikena throws for the Blues. Darry wins it and finds Papalii. Tuungafasi knocks on, and the Highlanders have it back.
They go wide to the right, before going to the left as Punivai and Gregory combine. The ball pops out on the Blues' side, but we'll go back for a penalty.
88 mins
Makalio throws and Gregory runs off the back before he's tackled.
Banks has the ball, but loses it in a tackle. The Blues pounce on it through Choat and go again.
Sullivan throws an intercept pass for Garden-Bachop. The Highlanders have it again, but has Tucker got it?
Nope, Renton makes a break, but the Blues have a penalty as he doesn' release.
86 mins
Highlanders penalty, they want the lineout. Please just let this end.
Hunt finds touch and we'll have a lineout.
85 mins
Hunt's kick-off doesn't go 10m, so the Blues will have a lineout. The siren's gone, so will they kick it out or go for the bonus point?
Funaki makes his debut at halfback for the Blues, on in the last minute. He feeds, but the Highlanders have a free kick. Fakatava goes quickly and the Highlanders run - can they get a bonus point?
Mikaele-Tu'u does well to take the ball inside the Blues' half. They go wide to Dawai, who's tackled but keeps the ball in play. They're through 10 phases, but the Blues turn it over, and now they have a run.
Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens breaks, but Tele'a drops the offload, the Highlanders go again. Someone please put it out. Gregory breaks down the wing, before the Highlanders go back to the middle through Banks.
Hang on though - Hunt throws an intercept and Caleb Clarke runs away to give the Blues their bonus point try!
Hang on, we're going to check for foul play. Funaki for a high tackle in the build up on Banks. Five minutes after the siren.
Banks is falling into the tackle, but Funaki's hit him high with his shoulder, the try will be disallowed.
80 mins - TRY BLUES
Blues lineout, Eklund throws, and the Blues drive.
Christie has the ball at the back, before finding Sotutu. Sullivan puts Clarke in a bit of space on the wing.
Tucker threatens to break the line before Choat makes ground! The Blues are up to the 5m line with advantage.
Choat goes again, as does Christie. Sotutu goes for the line, but Frizell tackles him short.
Christie finds Perofeta, and he beats his man to score! That should be that for the Blues!
Perofeta lines up to convert his own try, and does.
BLU 32 HIG 20
76 mins
We're in for another big finish for the Blues! Fakatava replaces Smith for the Highlanders.
He box kicks first up, but straight to Perofeta. Sullivan kicks straight to Dawai in the corner. The Highlanders look to build from inside their own half.
Fakatava clears again, this one straight into touch.
75 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Apologies, this time Smith wants the scrum. Smith feeds, Banks stands right in behind the scrum as first receiver.
Smith goes short to Gregory who hits the line. Frizell picks and goes - and he breaks the line to score! Straight over the top of Papalii and the Highlanders have a life!
Hang on, the referee wants to check for a knock-on. Nothing wrong with it, the try stands.
Hunt to convert, and does. Here we go!
BLU 25 HIG 20
73 mins
Makalio throws and this time Dickson's the target. The Highlanders drive, before Smith finds Punivai. Another advantage for the Highlanders.
They go wide, but Clarke intercepts, so we go back for another penalty.
Papalii is warned for repeat infringements. Another lineout in the corner then.
72 mins
Makalio throws, and Evans wins it again. The Highlanders drive as the Blues give away another advantage.
The Highlanders go wide to Hunt, who tries to step through the line. We go back for the penalty, and we'll have another lineout in the corner!
71 mins
Makalio throws, and Evans wins it. The Highlanders have advantage on the 5m line. The ball's lost forward, but Tuungafasi is penalised.
Another lineout in the corner.
70 mins
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds but Mikaele-Tu'u is tackled without the ball. Highlanders lineout.
Makalio throws and finds Mikaele-Tu'u. Advantage Highlanders for offside.
Banks straightens the attack, but we go back for the penalty as he's tackled.
Banks clears for a lineout, great kick! They'll have it right on the 5m line.
68 mins
Hunt's kick-off doesn't go 10m, so the Blues have a scrum on halfway.
Christie feeds, and trades a one-two with Sotutu. The Blues break again! Sullivan splits the line and finds Heem, but Smith is there to disrupt and Heem knocks on.
Another try-saver from Aaron Smith. Highlanders scrum.
65 mins - TRY BLUES
Both hookers have been replaced. Marshall throws for the Highlanders, but they've lost it as Sotutu steals it!
Perofeta kicks, and Telea beats Hunt in the air. Telea finds Heem, who gets an offload away to Ioane - and he's in to score!
Perofeta pushes his kick away to the left.
BLU 25 HIG 13
64 mins
Highlanders scrum. Smith feeds, and wins a penalty. Tuungafasi the culprit for the Blues.
Banks clears for a lineout.
62 mins
Another Blues lineout, on the 22. Eklund throws. Darry wins it.
Sotutu knocks on though, and the Highlanders have it. They look to run out from their 22, before we go back for advantage.
61 mins
Marty Banks clears into touch for a Blues lineout.
Eklund throws, Darry wins it and the Blues look to drive. Christie has it at the back and kicks for Telea, but Dawai gets there first.
The Highlanders have the ball on their 5m line, and Smith clears with a box kick.
59 mins
Highlanders lineout as Clarke takes the ball into touch.
Coltman throws, and Plumtree disrupts for the Blues to win it!
Heem hits the line, before the Blues go to Clarke infield. Tuungafasi takes the tackle, as does Eklund.
Ioane and Papalii combine, as Perofeta and Sotutu take tackles, 16 phases so far.
Papalii goes again, but Evans does brilliantly to win possession and a penalty!
56 mins - PENALTY BLUES
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds - but Hodgman wins a penalty for the Blues.
The Blues want more points, so Sullivan will shoot for goal - 55 metres out.
And he's got it perfectly!
BLU 20 HIG 13
52 mins
The Blues have the ball inside the Highlanders' half. Perofeta kicks with no one home at the back, but the ball goes dead.
That'll be a Highlanders scrum.
51 mins - TRY BLUES
Papalii pointed to the posts initially, but then changed his mind and wanted the lineout.
Eklund throws and Romano wins it.
The Blues are metres out - but Heem's dropped it! Smith goes back to Gregory who clears it, but it's not out!
The Blues have it as Telea runs at the line, and offloads to Plumtree on the right wing! He's going to score again!
Plumtree runs down the win and scores in the right corner - again! The Highlanders will be aggreived about no advantage after the knock on before Gregory's kick.
Perofeta lines up the conversion, again from the right touchline. And he gets this one too!
BLU 17 HIG 13
48 mins
Lineout in the corner. Eklund throws and Plumtree wins the ball and advantage.
The Blues are 5m away. Punivai smashes Perofeta before Telea loses the ball, so we go back for the penalty.
Offside against the Highlanders. The Blues go for the corner and lineout again.
47 mins
Blues scrum after a Highlanders knock-on. Christie feeds and the drive and win advantage. They go to the backs where Sullivan has room to run into the 22.
Advantage Blues as Eklund breaks the line, Romano picks and goes, as does Darry. We'll go back for the penalty though as the Blues slow down.
Perofeta kicks into the corner for a lineout.
42 mins
Coltman throws over the top, and Eklund snaps the loose ball.
Perofeta goes to the air, and Papalii wins it in the Highlanders' territory! Great chance for the Blues.
They go back to the right wing, where Papalii has remained - he runs and beats his man, before getting an offload back to Plumtree - his first Super Rugby try!
Perofeta to convert from the right touchline, and nails it!
BLU 10 HIG 13
41 mins
We're back after the break. Banks has replaced Coombes-Fabling for the Highlanders.
He kicks off, and Perofeta clears into touch.
Highlanders lineout.
HALFTIME
The siren goes, and the Blues want the lineout. Perofeta finds the corner, Romano is back.
Eklund throws. Darry wins it. The Blues drive and Eklund has it at the back of the drive.
Perofeta is smashed in a tackle, and knocks it on to end the half.
Hardly a classic so far.
40 mins
Eklund throws and Plumtree wins it. The Blues win advantage and look to play out from their own half.
Heem makes ground, before Sotutu wins advantage. They go wide to the left, and Plumtree kicks over the top, but straight to the Highlanders. We go back for the penalty.
39 mins
Highlanders lineout just shy of the 5m line. Coltman throws, Dickson wins it.
They go to find Coltman again, but he drops it.
Blues lineout.
38 mins
Highlanders scrum. Smith feeds. The Highlanders drive and win advantage. De Groot wins the penalty against Renata.
The Highlanders want the lineout, still with a man advantage.
36 mins
Blues scrum. Christie feeds. They go off the back to Heem, but he drops it.
What is going on tonight. Highlanders scrum.
35 mins
Highlanders lineout. Coltman throws. Selby-Rickit wins it.
Gregory drops the ball though, and now the Blues have the ball. Playing under advantage, and we stop for the penalty.
Coombes-Fabling has stayed down hurt. Marty Banks is ready to come on.
34 mins
Umaga-Jensen is subbed early, he looks in a bit of pain. Punivai takes his place.
Blues lineout, Eklund throws. Plumtree wins it and the Blues bring it down.
Perofeta kicks down to Garden-Bachop - who gets smashed by Telea. The Highlanders still have it.
Smith box kicks, and Perofeta takes it. The Blues go wide, before Clarke kicks out on the full, for a Highlanders lineout.
33 mins
Perofeta is penalised and the Highlanders take it quickly in the Blues' half.
Eklund turns the ball over though, and Christie clears downfield. Coombes-Fabling returns fire straight to Perofeta, who goes to the air, straight to Hunt though.
The Highlanders want to use the ball, as Evans kicks to the corner with no one home. Heem eventually clears back to Garden-Bachop, and now Hunt takes the line on.
Umaga-Jensen looks to go down the wing, but he's tackled into touch.
29 mins - PENALTY TRY HIGHLANDERS
Coltman throws, Dickson wins it and the Highlanders drive. Romano and Sotutu try to stop them, before they go down.
Penalty try is awarded for collapsing the maul, and Romano is shown a yellow!
BLU 3 HIG 13
28 mins
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds, on the Blues' 10m line. They go left and Garden-Bachop kicks along the ground.
Heem gets to the ball, but Dawai gets there to win a turnover and penalty.
The Highlanders go for the lineout right in the corner.
27 mins
Smith box kicks, and Sullivan drops it trying to gather. Shades of Sullivan being taken out in the air by Coombes-Fabling, but the ref says nothing wrong.
Highlanders scrum. Smith feeds and goes back to Hunt, who kicks to Sullivan. Sullivan kicks back and Hunt kicks again to Christie, who knocks on.
That's another Highlanders scrum.
25 mins - PENALTY HIGHLANDERS
Blues lineout, Eklund throws, but it's not straight.
The Highlanders opt for the kick. Hunt goes to the air and Clarke takes it. Perofeta kicks again, but Telea knocks it on. Highlanders scrum.
Smith feeds, and goes to Umaga-Jensen, who puts Gregory into space to break into the 22. Mikaele-Tu'u wins a penalty as Eklund leaves his feet. Do the Highlanders want the points? They do.
Hunt lines up the shot, easier than his first - from right in front.
And Hunt has no issue - the Highlanders take the lead!
BLU 3 HIG 6
19 mins
Perofeta kicks it out from the kick-off, and the Highlanders take the lineout. Coltman throws over the top again and the Highlanders have it.
Hunt eventually clears downfield to Perofeta, before Sullivan puts the bomb up for Coombes-Fabling.
Smith box kicks, and Perofeta and Sullivan combine again. The Blues look to go forward, but the Highlanders give away an offside penalty, Selby-Rickit the culprit.
17 mins - PENALTY HIGHLANDERS
Hunt lines up his first kick of the night, 40-odd metres out, in from the left touchline.
And he gets it perfectly! Hunt levels the scores!
BLU 3 HIG 3
15 mins
Coltman throws over the top, and Eklund snaps it up. Christie goes to the air with a box kick and Garden-Bachop takes it cleanly. The Highlanders can attack from here, just inside the Blues' half.
Hunt kicks over the top but Christie wins it, before Sullivan kicks deep down to Coombes-Fabling. Hunt returns fire with another kick, won by Sullivan. The Blues go to the air now through Christie, and Coombes-Fabling wins it. Smith box kicks, Sullivan takes it.
Ioane tries to step through, but Evans turns it over. Aaron Smith goes quickly and the Highlanders attack again.
Umaga-Jensen wins advantage, Sotutu leaving his feet and we stop for the penalty.
Hunt wants a shot at goal.
11 mins
Frizell wins the ball from the kick-off and the Highlanders are straight back into it. Garden-Bachop makes a break, but the Blues counter ruck and win the ball.
Sullivan clears into touch.
9 mins - PENALTY BLUES
Eklund throws, Plumtree wins it as Telea runs as first receiver. Another advantage for the Blues as they go wide to Clarke.
Clarke's through and should score - but Aaron Smith somehow gets in there to force a knock-on and save the try! We go back for the penalty, and the Blues want the points.
Perofeta lines the kick up, right in front. He nails it to open the scoring.
BLU 3 HIG 0
7 mins
Christie feeds the scrum, and the Blues win advantage this time, front row collapsing for the Highlanders.
Perofeta clears for a lineout.
6 mins
Coltman throws and Frizell wins it. The Highlanders have advantage as the Blues knock-on an attempted intercept, but make back some ground.
Dickson looks to pick and go, but he knocks on now. Blues scrum.
5 mins
Coltman throws long and Umaga-Jensen wins it. The Highlanders go forward and have advantage for offside. We go back for the penalty, Hunt clears for another lineout inside the 22.
4 mins
Aaron Smith feeds, and the Highlanders push and win a penalty. They run from the back as Gregory feeds Dawai. Telea wins the ball so we go back for the scrum penalty.
Hunt clears for a lineout.
2 mins
Dawai brings the kick down, and the Highlanders look to use the hands through the backline. Garden-Bachop knocks on though, and the Blues have a scrum.
Christie feeds, as Sotutu finds Clarke off the back of the scrum. Romano hits the line and loses the ball in the tackle.
Highlanders scrum.
KICK OFF
We're away! Perofeta kicks off to get things underway!
7:04pm
And Dalton Papalii does the same for the Blues. Both sides are contesting the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy tonight.
7:03pm
Aaron Smith leads the Highlanders out of the sheds, first out onto the park.
6:59pm
Both sides are back in the sheds for their final preparations, play will get underway very shortly!
6:30pm
Good evening! The first bit of news is that tonight's game is - for now - going ahead.
The Blues have just announced their updated team sheet, after today's confirmation of positive COVID cases.
Beauden Barrett is the main omission, with Stephen Perofeta moving from fullback to first-five in his place.
Nepo Laulala is also replaced in the starting side by Marcel Renata, while Sam Nock's spot on the bench is filled by Taufa Funaki.
Kick-off is around 30 minutes away!
*******
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Super Rugby Pacific round four clash between the Blues and Highlanders, from Albany's North Harbour Stadium.
Tonight's encounter comes under a cloud of uncertainty though. The Blues have confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in their side, including those named to take the field tonight.
But the Blues have also confirmed tonight's game is going ahead regardless, with replacement to take the places of those now isolating.
The Blues finally got on the board last week, with their first victory of 2022 by beating the Chiefs 24-22 at Eden Park, and can make it two from two against a Highlanders side yet to hit their best form.
But they'll still be without injured duo Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Harry Plummer, who both picked up shoulder complaints in the win over the Chiefs.
Tuivasa-Sheck can breathe a sigh of relief after being cleared of any serious injury, while Plummer hasn't been as fortunate, and will miss the rest of this season.
The Highlanders meanwhile are without a win from their opening three games, and haven't looked anywhere near the side that reached the final of Super Rugby Trans-Tasman last year.
TAB odds: Blues $1.27, Highlanders $3.50
Teams:
Blues: 1-Alex Hodgman, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Taine Plumtree, 7-Dalton Papalii (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Ofa Tuungafasi, 18-Jordan Lay, 19-James Tucker, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Tanielu Tele'a, 23-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
Highlanders: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Gareth Evans, 8-Marino Mikaele Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith (c), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13-Scott Gregory, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Bryn Evans, 20-Hugh Renton, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Marty Banks, 23-Ngatungane Punivai.
