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Highlanders 25 Blues 32
Highlanders - Gilbert 2 & Lienert-Brown try, Hunt 2 penalties & 2 conversions
Blues - Clarke, Sotutu, Perofeta & Barrett tries, Barrett conversion & 2 penalties, Perofeta 2 conversions
Second half
40th minute - Blues win the lineout and just have to control the ball. Sotutu is rocked in a tackle, the siren goes and Perofeta finds touch for the win.
Gutsy effort from the Highlanders, but Blues just too good and improve to 3-1.
39th minute - Renton loses the ball just metres out from the tryline and the Blues bust out, with Heem losing the ball. Highlanders shift right, but Clarke has Vahaakolo into touch again - good defence.
38th minute - Highlanders have a lineout five metres out, as Evans replaces Sullivan for his Blues debut. They win the lineout, but can't shift the maul and have to use it.
37th minute - Highlanders into Blues half, just outside the 22, and win an advantage. Hunt kicks to the corner...
36th minute - Funaki feeds a defensive scrum and the Blues win a penalty. Clarke powers towards halfway, so advantage over.
34th minute - Nock is helped off the field, replaced by Funaki. Highlanders win a lineout on the 22 and swarm on attack, but as the ball shifts left, Paea's pass to Lentjes is forward.
33rd minute - Gilbert threatens to bust a tackle on halfway, as the Highlanders win a penalty. Hunt kicks to the corner.
30th minute - TRY to Gilbert
The ball shifts left and Fakatava finds Gilbert lurking in the backline again to score. Hunt converts, BLU 32-25
29th minute - From the scrum, Hunt slices through and Gregory is cleaned out in a big tackle...
28th minute - Fakatava replaces Smith at halfback for the Highlanders. Hunt kicks off and Darry knocks on, Highlanders scrum.
26th minute - TRY to Perofeta
Smith finds touch near the 10 for a BLues lineout, but the Highlanders steal it. Smith can't gather and Tucker regathers, charging to within metres of the tryline.
Frasers plays advantage for offside, but when the ball shifts right, Perofeta slices to the posts to score.
25th minute - Highlanders' defensive scrum inside the 22, but the BLues shove and disrupt the exit.
23rd minute - Blues scrum in Highlanders half and Fraser plays advantage. Darry and Tucker carry upfield to the 22, but the Blues knock on.
22nd minute - From the kickoff, Smith puts up a high kick that bounces back the Highlanders' way, so Smith puts another kick into the Blues half. The bounce completely does Clarke and Dawai is chasing hard to grab the ball to score.
Fraser wants to review something though and replays show Dawai knocked the ball forward from Smith's initial kick, so no try.
19th minute - TRY to Lienert-Brown
From a midfield scrum, Evans charges off the back and Smith carries through a couple of tackles. Ball shifts left and Lienert-Brown rumbles over to score.
Hunt converts, BLU 25-18
18th minute - Holland replaces Selby-Rickit for his Highlanders debut.
17th minute - Highlanders secure the kickoff and Paea hacks a kick through, knocked on by the Blues.
15th minute - TRY to Sotutu
Hunt's dropout is fielded on the 10 and Blues advance to the 22. Fraser plays advantage, but Sotutu barges through the defensive line and fends off a couple of stragglers to scrore under the bar.
Perofeta converts, BLU 25-11
13th minute - Laulala comes into the Blues front row for this scrum. Sotutu charges off the back of the scrum, but is held up over the line, goal-line dropout.
12th minute - Blues kick to the goal-line and Smith is forced back for an attacking five-metre scrum.
11th minute - From the kickoff, Blues drive the Highlanders back towards their goal-line and then charge down Smith's clearance.
Ninth minute - TRY to Gilbert
Fraser is playing advantage, but Highlanders go right from the breakdown and Gilbert enters the backline from fullback, slipping past Clarke's despairing tackle. Hunt leaves his conversion right, BLU 18-11
Eighth minute - Barrett is gone for good tonight. Eklund throws to a defensive lineout and Highlanders steal the throw, driving towards the tryline.
Seventh minute - From the lineout, Dawai busts up centrefield, then Hunt has a dart inside the 22. Highlanders shift right, but Clarke takes Vahaakolo into touch a couple of metres out from the corner.
Sixth minute - Smith runs left, where the Highlanders seem to have an overlap, but they can't shit it faster enough and the Blues turn it over to clear.
Fifth minute - Selby-Rickit wins another lineout and maul is edging forward, then sideways.
Fourth minute - Selby-Rickit wins the lineout, but the maul isn't going anywhere. Coltman breaks towards the line and the Blues are offside.
Third minute - Perofeta comes on to replace Barrett, who will need an HIA. Vahaakolo is on for his Highlanders debut.
Nock feeds a defensive scrum, but the Highlanders shove the Bluess back and win a penalty, which they kick to the corner.
Second minute - Smith feeds the scrum, but big shove from the Blues forwards. Highlanders mount an attack on the 22 and Barrett has stayed down with a head knock - remember, he's had concussion problems lately.
First minute - Darry has stayed on to replace Goodhue, after his HIA. Hunt kicks off, Sullivan catches, but his held up in the maul for a Highlanders turnover.
First half
39th minute - TRY to Barrett
From the scrum, Sotutu tries to pick up at the back and is hassled off the ball. Instead, Nock passes to Barrett on the shortside and he dives over in the corner.
Barrett hooks his conversion left, as the halftime siren sounds, BLU 18-6
38th minute - Coltman is penalised for changing his bind in the maul and Goodhue is led off for a head assessment. Blues set the five-metre scrum, desperate for more points before halftime.
37th minute - Fraser penalises the Highlanders for a dangerous tackle and Barrett kicks to the corner. Blue win the lineout and maul towards the line.
36th minute - Blues win a lineout and swarm to the 22. Telea can't hold a pass and Highlanders try to break out, but Blues hold Gilbert up in a tackle, turning the ball over.
34th minute - Highlanders win a lineout on halfway and mount an attack. Fraser penalises the Highlanders for offside in a tackle and Barret finds a long touch just outside the Highlanders 22.
33rd minute - From the kickoff, Selby-Rickit is hit in the air and Clarke is penalised.
31st minute - Hunt slots the goal from in front, BLU 13-6
30th minute - Highlanders snaffle the loose ball and swarm into the Blues half. They set just outside the 22 and win a midfield penalty, which Hunt will kick for goal.
29th minute - Blues try to launch an attack from halfway and Sotutu is caught in a high tackle. Barrett tries to send Tu'ungafasi through a gap, but the prop spills the pass.
28th minute - Highlanders disrupt the Blues lineout near their line and clear to the 10.
27th minute - Telea probes dangerously to the right, but loses the ball. Fraser is playing advantage and brings them back for the penalty, which Barrett kicks to the corner.
26th minute - Blues scrum on halfway and Ioane bursts towards the left touch.
24th minute - Highlanders win a lineout on halfway and maul into the Blues half. Smith kicks high, but Barrett is safe underneath.
23rd minute - Barrett slots the penalty from left of the posts, BLU 13-3
21st minute - Fraser is playing under advantage and eventually brings them back for the penalty, which Barrett will kick for goal.
20th minute - BLues win a lineout and shift left, where Sullivan kicks inside the 22. They field a clearance and mount another attack.
18th minute - Blues field a clearing kick and Telea busts up centrefield. He's tackled near the right touchline and the ball eventually goes out, Highlanders throw-in.
17th minute - Hunt lines up a shot at goal from left of the posts, about 35m out, and slots it, BLU 10-3
16th minute - Gregory and Paea counterattack, taking Highlanders back into the Blues half, where Sotutu is penalised for offside.
15th minute - From the scrum, Smith bounces a kick into touch inside the 22. Blues win the lineout and Barrett hoofs it into the Highlanders 22.
13th minute - From the scrum, Telea powers through a couple of tackles, but Blues lose the ball in centrefield.
12th minute - Nock clears his 22 with a high kick, Gilbert claims it in the air, but loses the ball on the ground. Blues scrum.
Ninth minute - TRY to Clarke
Blues win the lineout and Barrett puts up a high kick. BLues win it back and shift it left, where Heem gives Clarke space and he cuts infield through the last defenders to score.
Barrett converts, BLU 10-0
Eighth minute - First scrum, Smith to feed and he clears from the base, finding touch near halfway.
Seventh minute - Barrett is rocked in a tackle in front of the posts and looses the ball forward. Highlanders can't clear, so they get the defensive scrum.
Sixth minute - Highlanders have the ball on their own side of halfway, but Renata drives over the ruck and Blues have the ball. Ioane and Sullivan make ground down the right touchline, then the forwards take over.
Fourth minute - Highlanders on attack on the 22 and playing advantage. Fraser goes back for the penalty and Hunt will line up a penalty from just outside the 22, five metres in from the left touch, but hooks it left.
First minute - Late change in referee too, as Mike Fraser replaces Angus Mabey with the whistle. Beauden Barrett kicks off and Highlanders set themselves for a clearance.
Evans is caught offside, in front of Smith's kick, and Barrett lines up a kick at goal. He slots it, BLU 3-0
4:22pm - Late changes to the Highlanders, with Mikaele-Tu'u ruled out, Gareth Evans comes off the bench into the loose forwards and Freedom Vahaakolo onto the bench.
***
Kia ora, good afternoon and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Highlanders v Blues Super Rugby Pacific clash at Dunedin.
With COVID-19 crowd restrictions now lifted, Forsyth Barr's 'Zoo' student section should be heaving for this encounter, with the home side still chasing their first win over the season.
These two teams met two weeks ago - the last time both took the field - with the Blues emerging 32-20 winners at North Harbour Stadium.
The northerners have been bolstered by the return of star first-five Beauden Barrett, who was meant to start against the 'Landers previously, but withdrew late with COVID.
Missing this time is All Blacks halfback Finlay Christie, with Sam Nock getting the nod for the No.9 jersey, marking Aaron Smith.
The Highlanders will debut Dutch lock Fabian Holland off the bench, which they have agains stacked with an extra forward.
Join us at 4:30pm for kickoff.
TAB Odds: Blues $1.37, Highlanders $2.90
Highlanders: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Jermaine Ainsley, 4-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 9-Aaron Smith (c), 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Mosese Dawai, 12-Scott Gregory, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Ngatungane Punivai, 15-Sam Gilbert
Reserves: 16-Andrew Makalio, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Josh Hohneck, 19-Fabian Holland, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Vilimoni Koroi, 23-Hugh Renton
Blues: 1-Ofa Tuungafasi, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-James Tucker, 5-Josh Goodhue, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Dalton Papalii (c), 8-Hoskins Sotutu, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Caleb Clarke, 12-Bryce Heem, 13-Rieko Ioane, 14-Mark Telea, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Nepo Laulala, 19-Sam Darry, 20-Adrian Choat, 21-Taufa Funaki, 22-Corey Evans, 23-Stephen Perofeta
