Highlanders 29 - 21 Blues

Full time

22 Feb 2025

Stage: Regular Season Round 2

Forsyth Barr Stadium

The Highlanders secured a 29-21 victory over the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The Blues started strong with early tries from Christie and Barrett, taking a 14-3 lead. However, the Highlanders responded quickly with two tries from Hurley and Gilbert, ending the first half ahead 17-14. Sam Gilbert's penalty kicks proved crucial, adding to the Highlanders' score throughout the match. The Blues fought back with a try from Riccitelli, but the Highlanders maintained their composure. A yellow card for Daniel Lienert-Brown late in the game hampered the Highlanders' momentum. Ultimately, the Highlanders' resilience and tactical execution earned them the win.

Broadcasters

Where to watch in: United Kingdom

Weather

Temperature: 15.9°C (Feels like 11.3°C) Condition: MostlyCloudy Wind: 24.0 km/h, gusting to 45.1 km/h Humidity: 68% Cloud Cover: 74%

Highlights

Events

Kickoff
2'

Try

Finlay Christie · Blues

0 - 5
3'

Conversion

Beauden Barrett · Blues

0 - 7
9'

Substitution

Sefo Kautai on for Saula Ma'u · Highlanders
20'

Penalty

Sam Gilbert · Highlanders

3 - 7
22'

Try

Beauden Barrett · Blues

3 - 12
23'

Conversion

Beauden Barrett · Blues

3 - 14
29'

Try

Finn Hurley · Highlanders

8 - 14
37'

Try

Sam Gilbert · Highlanders

13 - 14
Halftime 13 - 14
Second Half
41'

Substitution

Lui Naeata on for Veveni Lasaqa · Highlanders
42'

Penalty

Sam Gilbert · Highlanders

16 - 14
43'

Substitution

Daniel Lienert-Brown on for Ethan de Groot · Highlanders
50'

Try

Ricky Riccitelli · Blues

16 - 19
51'

Substitution

Angus Ta'avao on for Marcel Renata · Blues
52'

Conversion

Beauden Barrett · Blues

16 - 21
52'

Substitution

Josh Fusitu'a on for Laghlan McWhannell · Blues
52'

Substitution

Josh Beehre on for Hugh Renton · Blues
54'

Try

Finn Hurley · Highlanders

21 - 21
55'

Conversion

Sam Gilbert · Highlanders

23 - 21
55'

Substitution

Taufa Funaki on for Finlay Christie · Blues
57'

Yellow Card

Daniel Lienert-Brown · Highlanders
58'

Substitution

Finlay Christie on for Taufa Funaki · Blues
60'

Substitution

Adrian Choat on for Cameron Suafoa · Blues
60'

Substitution

Jack Taylor on for Nikora Broughton · Highlanders
61'

Substitution

Nathan Hastie on for Folau Fakatava · Highlanders
64'

Penalty

Sam Gilbert · Highlanders

26 - 21
64'

Substitution

Corey Evans on for AJ Lam · Blues
64'

Substitution

Cole Forbes on for Mark Tele'a · Blues
67'

Yellow Card Complete

Daniel Lienert-Brown · Highlanders
68'

Substitution

James Mullan on for Adrian Choat · Blues
68'

Substitution

Will Stodart on for Lui Naeata · Highlanders
75'

Penalty

Sam Gilbert · Highlanders

29 - 21
79'

Substitution

Cameron Millar on for Taine Robinson · Highlanders
Fulltime 29 - 21

Player ratings

Highlanders

15 Finn Hurley 9.5
14 Sam Gilbert 7.9
13 Tanielu Tele'a 6.9
12 Timoci Tavatavanawai 7.7
11 Caleb Tangitau 7.7
10 Taine Robinson 6.9
9 Folau Fakatava 7.8
1 Ethan de Groot 6.4
2 Soane Vikena 7.5
3 Saula Ma'u –
4 Fabian Holland 7.0
5 Mitchell Dunshea 6.9
6 Sean Withy 7.1
7 Veveni Lasaqa 6.7
8 Hugh Renton 6.2
16 Jack Taylor 6.1
17 Daniel Lienert-Brown 4.8
18 Sefo Kautai 6.8
19 Will Stodart 6.4
20 Nikora Broughton –
21 Nathan Hastie 6.4
22 Cameron Millar –
23 Lui Naeata 6.1

Blues

15 Beauden Barrett 7.7
14 Mark Tele'a 7.1
13 Rieko Ioane 6.0
12 AJ Lam 6.4
11 Caleb Clarke 7.9
10 Harry Plummer 6.3
9 Finlay Christie 6.5
1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi 5.4
2 Ricky Riccitelli 7.7
3 Marcel Renata 5.8
4 Patrick Tuipulotu 5.8
5 Laghlan McWhannell 6.3
6 Cameron Suafoa 6.0
7 Dalton Papali'i 6.9
8 Hoskins Sotutu 7.3
16 James Mullan 6.0
17 Josh Fusitu'a 6.4
18 Angus Ta'avao 5.7
19 Josh Beehre 6.8
20 Adrian Choat –
21 Taufa Funaki –
22 Corey Evans 5.7
23 Cole Forbes 5.9