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Highlanders 37 Moana Pasifika 17
FULLTIME
Moana Pasifika knock on to concede a scrum, as the siren goes in the background.
The Highlanders just need to kick it out. Fakatava feeds and finds Vilimoni Koroi - on for Hunt.
Koroi spills it, and Moana Pasifika have it back.
McClutchie kicks over the top, but it's spilled into touch - and the Highlanders have their first win!
78 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Moana Pasifika are back to 15 men. Marshall throws, Hicks takes it, again.
They go for the drive, 10m out. Marshall comes off the back early, and holds off the defenders to score his second!
Hunt to convert from the left, and manages this one just fine.
(HIG 37 MP 17)
76 mins
The Highlanders go quick through Garden-Bachop, but Moana Pasifika have won it back.
Pole makes some metres, only to have Fakatava get over the ball, turn it over, and win a penalty.
Hunt kicks for the corner and another lineout.
75 mins
Break in play as Dickson stays down hurt. Moana Pasifika scrum, replacement halfback Taumateine feeds.
Fainga'anuku runs as first receiver, but Moana Pasifika have lost it.
The Highlanders go wide to Dawai who runs the ball towards halfway. Hunt kicks it straight to Havili, who kicks it straight back.
Hunt kicks down to McClutchie, and he runs into the Highlanders' defence.
Moana Pasifika are at the 10m line, before Lealiifano kicks over the top for Fainga'anuku, but he slips.
Lentjes has turned it over, and they go wide to Gregory who kicks over the top. McClutchie takes it, but he's tackled into touch.
72 mins
Moana Pasifika lineout, and the Highlanders knock it on in the process.
Havili kicks over the top to Tavatavanawai, but he can't win it in the air, so we go back for the penalty.
70 mins
Moana Pasifika have lost the ball again from the kickoff, and Fakatava clears it down to Havili. Solomona gets there to make the tackle and turn it over, but Moana Pasifika win a penalty against Dickson.
68 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Hunt finds touch, and that'll be another lineout on the 5m line.
Marshall throws, Hicks claims it and they drive. Marshall has the ball at the back and the Highlanders have another advantage.
Fakatava takes the ball from Marshall, throws a dummy, beats his man and scores.
Hunt with another kick, this one from the left, and he's made a complete meal of it.
(HIG 30 MP 17)
66 mins
Funaki spills the ball into touch, and the Highlanders will have a scrum.
Fakatava feeds and runs off the back of it. Hunt tries to jink through as the Highlanders have another advantage. Fakatava puts a kick up that Fainga'anuku claims, so we go back for the penalty.
Offside against Motuga, so he's shown a yellow. Moana Pasifika are down to 14 again.
64 mins - PENALTY HIGHLANDERS
Marshall throws over the top and Evans wins it. Advantage Highlanders, and we go back for the penalty. Apoua's given this one away.
Lealiifano is warned on behalf of Moana Pasifika.
The Highlanders want the points this time. Hunt lines up a shot at goal.
Straight in front, and he nails it.
(HIG 25 MP 17)
62 mins
Fakatava replaces Smith for the Highlanders. McClutchie has also replaced Aumua for Moana Pasifika, he moves to first-five, Lealiifano goes into 12, Toala into 13.
Enari feeds, before McClutchie clears it for a Highlanders lineout.
61 mins
Highlanders lineout, Marshall throws, Dickson wins it.
They go to Lentjes and drive. The ball comes down, and Moana Pasifika have turned it over.
Apoua the hero there. That'll be a Moana Pasifika scrum.
59 mins
The Highlanders win possession again as Moana Pasifika spill it.
They've got advantage too, but we'll go back for the penalty.
They want the lineout.
57 mins - TRY MOANA PASIFIKA
Solomona replaces Gilbert, and the Highlanders bring the ball down from the kick-off.
Gregory is forced to tidy up after a loose pass, and it's knocked on to give Moana Pasifika advantage.
They go wide through Lealiifano, who throws a cutout pass to Fainga'anuku's wing, and he scores!
Lealiifano to convert, this one from the right touchline. And he slots it! Class kick from a class player!
(HIG 22 MP 17)
53 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Marshall throws, and the Highlanders drive.
The ball's at the back, and Marshall has a go - and he's over! The replacement hooker's gone over Tavatavanawai and Enari to get the ball down, great strength.
Hunt lines up the kick, and he hits the post with this one too! Just one from four kicks so far for Hunt tonight.
(HIG 22 MP 10)
52 mins
Changes in the front row. Marshall and Johnstone replace Makalio and Ainsley.
Moana Pasifika scrum. Enari feeds, but the Highlanders have turned it, and won a penalty for collapsing the front row.
Hunt finds touch for another lineout.
50 mins
Tolai throws over the top, and is called for not straight. That'll be a Highlanders scrum then, this one on the 5m line.
Smith feeds, and Mikaele-Tu'u runs off the back before he's tackled. Evans has a go, as does de Groot.
Mikaele-Tu'u has another go, before they go wide, where Garden-Bachop knocks it on.
Moana Pasifika hold on again.
48 mins
It'll be another lineout. Hunt finds the corner. Less than a minute until Moana Pasifika are back to 15.
Makalio throws and Hicks wins it. Smith runs from the back of the scrum and looks to go blind, but Lindenmuth gets there, and throws him into touch.
The prop gives it to the All Blacks halfback afterwards too. Moana Pasifika lineout.
47 mins
Moana Pasifika have given away 10 penalties already tonight. Hunt finds the corner for another lineout.
Makalio to throw, and Mikaele-Tu'u wins it. They drive again, but Moana Pasifika defend it. Makalio is tackled short of the line, so Smith gives it to the backs.
Gregory has a run, as does Dickson, but that's another offside against Moana Pasifika.
Will the Highlanders look to their scrum? Ainsley is staying down hurt, and we'll have a break while he's treated.
45 mins
Makalio throws, Hicks wins it and they drive. Another advantage for the Highlanders, as Makalio has it at the back.
The drive keeps going fowards, and Makalio can easily dot down for the Highlanders' fourth try.
Or has he? Hunt lines up the kick, but the TMO is wanting to have a look at something.
So Smith and Makalio exchanged passes at the back of the drive, but Makalio never moved from his position, so that's a forward pass.
The try is disallowed, but we go back for the penalty. That'll be another lineout.
43 mins
Highlanders lineout, but it's delayed by a streaker. Welcome to Dunedin.
Makalio throws, Dickson sees it end up on the Highlanders' side as Hicks eventually regains possession.
Smith goes to the air, and Tavatavanawai takes it cleanly. Enari's pass is loose and the Highlanders have it!
The Highlanders win a penalty as Toala leaves his feet.
That'll be a lineout on the 5m line for the Highlanders.
42 mins
Havili looks to clear, but his kick isn't out. Mikaele-Tu'u has a run, but the Highlanders have lost it.
Tavatavanawai has a run, only for Enari to fumble it into touch.
Highlanders lineout.
41 mins
Both sides are back out for the second half. There doesn't appear to be any changes after the break for the Highlanders. Chris Apoua replaces Sekope Kepu for Moana Pasifika.
Hunt kicks off to restart after the break.
HALFTIME - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Hunt finds touch for another lineout in the corner, the Highlanders have a man advantage.
Makalio throws and Hicks wins it again, as they go for the lineout drive.
They go close, before Smith flicks the ball between his legs for Dawai to score in the corner! That's a double for Dawai.
The siren goes as Hunt lines up the kick, wide on the left again. And he misses again, pulling it to the left.
(HIG 17 MP 10)
39 mins - YELLOW CARD MOANA PASIFIKA
Can the home side score another before the break? Makalio throws and Hicks wins it, as the Highlanders go for the drive.
Another advantage for the Highlanders, they drive at the line but it looks like it's been held up?
Held up is the call, but Poloniati is shown a yellow card for giving away the penalty.
38 mins
Lineout on halfway. Makalio throws, Dickson wins it and they go to the drive.
Smith runs it off the back and kicks over the top for Paea, but we'll go back for a penalty for collapsing the maul.
Kepu is warned, Moana Pasifika are losing their discipline.
Hunt clears for a lineout.
37 mins
Highlanders scrum, Smith feeds before Lindenmuth gives away a penalty.
Hunt clears and the Highlanders have a lineout.
36 mins
Lealiifano kicks off, and Fainga'anuku wins it.
Lealiifano throws a cut out pass that's nearly intercepted, but knocked on by the Highlanders.
Funaki spills the ball as Moana Pasifika go wide, no knock on though. Aumua has a run before being tackled. Advantage over.
Poloniati is put through into a gap - but he's knocked it on now.
That's a Highlanders scrum.
32 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Makalio throws again, Dickson wins it this time, and they drive again.
Makalio has it at the back - and he dives over to score the Highlanders' second!
Hunt to convert, from the right this time. But he's hit the post this time.
(HIG 12 MP 10)
31 mins
Makalio throws and Hicks wins it as the Highlanders drive, and win advantage.
They go to the backs through Paea, and Mikaele-Tu'u. Gilbert goes close and is tackled on the line, but we go back for the penalty.
Offside against Lindenmuth. That'll be another lineout on the 5m line.
29 mins
Break in play before the scrum. Selby-Rickit limps off the field, and Kepu is also down hurt.
We're all ready to go. Max Hicks comes on for his debut to replace Selby-Rickit, Kepu is carrying on after an arm issue.
Enari feeds and Toala runs as first receiver. The ball's turned over though, and the Highlanders can attack.
Hunt puts Dawai into a gap on the left, but he's tackled after running into the 22. Advantage Highlanders, before play is stopped for the offside.
Do they want the points? Nope, lineout.
27 mins
Makalio throws, Selby-Rickit wins it. Lentjes loses the ball in a tackle, and Moana Pasifika clear it down to Garden-Bachop.
Hunt puts a kick up, Havili wins it. They kick it back to the Highlanders though, and now they can build another attack.
Hunt puts a kick up, but Paea knocks it on in the challenge. Advantage Moana Pasifika, but it's knocked on again.
We'll have a scrum, Moana Pasifika's feed.
24 mins
The Highlanders win the lineout, and Gregory kicks the ball down to Havili, who in turn kicks it into touch.
Highlanders lineout. Makalio throws, Dickson wins it and the Highlanders drive. Mikaele-Tu'u has the ball at the back, as the Highlanders win advantage. Funaki is offside.
The penalty is called, and the Highlanders take the lineout.
22 mins
First scrum of the night. Enari feeds, but we'll need a reset as the front rows go down.
Enari feeds again, and they go down again. Penalty to Moana Pasifika, and they'll have a lineout.
Havili clears.
20 mins
Lealiifano puts up a bomb that Garden-Bachop wins. Paea puts a kick through for Moana Pasifika, before it's kicked back down to Hunt.
The Highlanders look to use it this time, before Smith clears.
Havili takes it in the air, as Kepu takes the ball into a tackle. Enari clears to Hunt, and fires it to Garden-Bachop. Gregory has a go, and finds Dawai outside him.
Dawai kicks over the top, but Paea knocks it on with the line in sight.
Moana Pasifika scrum.
17 mins
Hunt clears into touch for a Highlanders lineout.
Makalio throws, and Selby-Rickit wins it. The Highlanders give away a penalty though, Ainsley called for pulling jerseys.
Dumb. Moana Pasifika will have a lineout.
16 mins
Hunt kicks off, and Tavatavanawai wins the ball against the challenge of Dawai.
Enari clears with a box kick, as far as Gilbert. De Groot runs, before Hunt kicks over the top.
Enari kicks again to Gilbert, and this time the Highlanders run. Garden-Bachop drops the ball and Fainga'anuku snaps it up.
Mikaele-Tu'u turns it over though, and gets the Highlanders out of danger with a penalty.
12 mins - TRY MOANA PASIFIKA
Tolai throws, and Slade wins it again. Moana Pasifika go to their lineout drive as Enari and Tolai both have runs.
Kepu has a run, as does Lindenmuth. Toala has a go, and offloads to Levi Aumua - who barges over to score!
Lealiifano for his second kick, and curls it back from the left hand side.
(HIG 7 MP 10)
11 mins
Hunt kicks off, only for Tavatavanawai to break and run 40 metres, into the Highlanders' half!
Moana Pasifika have advantage, and we stop for the penalty.
Havili finds touch for a lineout.
9 mins - PENALTY MOANA PASIFIKA
They want the points. Lealiifano lines up his first kick of the night, from the left.
And he makes no mistake to give the visitors their first points.
(HIG 7 MP 3)
7 mins
Lealiifano kicks off again, and Gareth Evans wins it before Smith clears. Moana Pasifika lineout.
Tolai throws and Slade wins it. The Highlanders give away offside inside their own 22, and Moana Pasifika get through 10 phases.
They lose it forward though, and we go back for the penalty.
Do they want the lineout or the points?
4 mins - TRY HIGHLANDERS
Frizell limps off the field, huge loss for the hosts. Looks like a knee injury. Gareth Evans replaces him as the Highlanders have a lineout.
Makalio throws, over the top but de Groot snaps it up and takes the ball to the 5m line. Offside advantage for the Highlanders as Paea hits the line.
Mikaele-Tu'u has a run, before Hunt spins the ball wide to Dawai, who scores in the corner!
Hunt looks to convert from the left touchline, and he nails it!
(HIG 7 MP 0)
2 mins
Frizell wins the first kick, and Smith clears with a box kick. William Havili takes it in the air after the challenge of Gilbert.
Moana Pasifika can build, and look to use the hands. Leali'ifano kicks down to Hunt, who finds Dawai inside him.
The Highlanders have advantage and a penalty for off side.
Frizell has stayed down injured after taking that first tackle.
KICK OFF
We're away as Christian Lealiifano puts up the first kick of the night!
7:05pm
Awesome to see that from the Highlanders. We're all ready to go under the roof!
7:04pm
The Highlanders perform their haka to Moana Pasifika before kick-off, Aaron Smith leads it as captain.
7:03pm
And Aaron Smith leads the Highlanders onto Forsyth Barr, great support for the home side.
7:02pm
Sekope Kepu leads Moana Pasifika out of the sheds. Can they secure only their second win tonight?
6:59pm
Both sides are back in the sheds going through their final prep. Not long to go until we get underway!
6:40pm
Good evening! It's all on under the roof in Dunedin tonight, with the home side in desperate need of victory.
Moana Pasifika on the other hand can continue their impressive Super Rugby debut season, and take another upset win over a Kiwi side.
Kick off in around 25 minutes.
*******
Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of this Super Rugby Pacific clash between the Highlanders and Moana Pasifika, from Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
If you're a Highlanders fan, this season's Super Rugby table does not make for good reading.
Now into the competition's eighth round, the Highlanders boast a record of 0-6 to start the season, making them the only team without a win in the competition.
Tony Brown's side came close to a stunning upset last week, but ultimately fell short against a Crusaders side who finished the game with 14 men.
And against Super Rugby's newcomers in Moana Pasifika, tonight represents arguably the best chance the Highlanders will have to get that monkey off their back.
Moana Pasifika on the other hand have recorded one solitary win, coming in golden point against the Hurricanes, in between a series of impressive displays against the other New Zealand teams.
Aaron Mauger's men are far from the finished product just five games into their first season, but have already proven they have what it takes to mix it with the best if they play to their potential.
Both teams realistically need to win tonight if they're to retain a slim hope of staying in finals contention later this season.
TAB odds: Highlanders $1.06, Moana Pasifika $7
Teams:
Highlanders: 1-Ethan De Groot, 2-Andrew Makalio, 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-Sam Gilbert, 15-Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16-Rhys Marshall, 17-Ayden Johnstone, 18-Saula Mau, 19-Max Hicks, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Vilimoni Koroi, 23-Denny Solomona
Moana Pasifika: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sekope Kepu (c), 4-Veikoso Poloniati, 5-Samuel Slade, 6-Solomone Funaki, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Penitoa Finau, 9-Ereatara Enari, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 11-Timoci Tavatavanawai, 12-Danny Toala, 13-Levi Aumua, 14-Tima Fainga'anuku, 15-William Havili
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Abraham Pole, 18-Chris Apoua, 19-Mahonri Ngakuru, 20-Sione Tu'ipulotu, 21-Jonathan Taumateine, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Fine Inisi
