Relive 1 NEWS NOW’s live coverage of tonight’s Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
FULLTIME - HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 31
After three consecutive penalties, the Highlanders botch it up at line-out time. They fumble the ball and reserve halfback Finlay Christie boots the ball into touch. The Hurricanes showed great tenacity at the end after being penalised several times deep inside their own half. The loss will be a big blow for the Highlanders now who have just two wins and four losses for the season.
76 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 31
PENALTY! The Hurricanes forwards get up at scrum time and force the Highlanders to go back. Referee Glen Jackson blows his whistle and gives the Hurricanes a much needed penalty inside their own 22.
73 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 31
TURNOVER! Ardie Savea forces a turnover as the Highlanders' driving maul collapses. The Hurricanes have a scrum inside their own 22.
69 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 31
NO TRY! Ben Smith throws a huge skip pass out to Tevita Li, he dives early towards the try-line, but Jordie Barrett and TJ Perenara get back in time to make a try saving tackle. Li is ruled to have been in touch inside the goal-line as he grounded the ball.
66 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 31
TRY! Beauden Barrett throws a dummy before taking on the Highlanders defence. He pops up a perfect offload for a charging Ngani Laumape. Laumape has support with him but he doesn't need it as he steps and powers his way over to score the Hurricanes' fourth try of the match.
Beauden Barrett makes no mistake with his conversion attempt.
61 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 24
TRY! Ben Lam makes a sensational break out run at halfway. He breaks through several tackles before linking up with Ardie Savea. Savea tears through the Highlanders defence and shows some great footwork as he charges over to score down the right flank.
Beauden Barrett is on target with his conversion attempt from the sideline. We have a game on our hands.
57 mins: HIGHLANDERS 28 HURRICANES 17
TRY! The Highlanders forward get everything right at line-out time. The drive their way over the try-line and it is openside flanker James Lentjes who gets another five-pointer for the home team. A great well-worked drive by the Highlanders!
Marty Banks keeps his 100 per cent record with the boot after another successful conversion attempt.
53 mins: HIGHLANDERS 21 HURRICANES 17
TRY! The Highlanders screw the scrum from 10m out of the Hurricanes' goal-line. Kayne Hammington picks the ball up and steps off his right before diving over to score under the goal posts. An excellent piece of brilliance from the Highlanders' halfback.
Marty Banks makes no mistake with his conversion attempt in front of the sticks.
50 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 HURRICANES 17
DEFENCE! Ben Smith opts for a tap and go deep inside his own half. He links up with Shannon Frizell and he goes charging up the field to halfway. The Highlanders spread the ball to the left side to Tevita Li and it looks like he can go all the way.
He has just Ardie Savea to beat but the Hurricanes flanker makes a superb cover and try saving tackle 10m out from the Canes' goal-line. The Highlanders just need to spread the ball to the right side but they knock on the ball 5m out.
43 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 HURRICANES 17
THREE! The Highlanders are penalised for an infringement at ruck time and Beauden Barrett slots his penalty attempt from just outside the Highlanders' 22 close to the side-line.
40 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 HURRICANES 14
And we are back underway! Beauden Barrett kick the ball deep and high towards the Highlanders.
HALFTIME - HIGHLANDERS 14 HURRICANES 14
It has been an action packed first half with the Highlanders letting the visitors get back into the match, with a mistimed pass which led to a try to Hurricanes' flanker Ardie Savea.
The Hurricanes are struggling at the moment with their own line-out throws and are guilty of just trying to do too much with the ball. After making initial good breakout runs throughout the first spell with ball in hand, but turned the ball over far too often with forced passes.
The Highlanders have been excellent at set piece, counter-attack and have taken their opportunities with the ball.
38 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 HURRICANES 14
TRY! The Highlanders are hot on attack and Tevita Li is tackled just outside the Hurricanes' 22. Li tries to pop the ball up to a Highlanders teammate and Ardie Savea makes an exceptional intercept. He runs 70m untouched to score the Hurricanes' second try of the match. Savea showed some incredible pace to go all the way and score.
Beauden Barrett has a difficult kick on the angle, but he is online with his conversion attempt.
28 mins: HIGHLANDERS 14 HURRICANES 7
TRY! The Highlanders power their way over the try-line after a well-worked line out drive. Ash Dixon has the ball at the back of the driving and he dives over to score. Replays show that there could have been a knock-on as he grounded the ball, but there isn't enough evidence to overturn the on field decision of try by Glen Jackson.
Marty Banks steps up and slots his tricky conversion attempt from the side-line.
27 mins: HIGHLANDERS 7 HURRICANES 7
PENALTY! The Highlanders turn down an opportunity to kick at goal with Marty Banks kicking the pill into touch for an attacking line-out.
22 mins: HIGHLANDERS 7 HURRICANES 7
TRY! The Hurricanes answer with a try of their own! TJ Perenara spots acres of space in behind the ruck and stretches out to score close to the goal posts. It all started with a breakout run by Jordie Barrett down the right flank. But it was the Hurricanes skipper Perenara who strikes first for the visitors.
The conversion by Beauden Barrett is good and the scores are level at 7-7.
18 mins: HIGHLANDERS 7 HURRICANES 0
TRY! The Highlanders keep the ball in the forwards and Shannon Frizell gets his hands on the ball. He has two defenders on him but he still manages to power his way to the try-line and ground the ball for the first try of the match.
Marty Banks lands his conversion attempt from easy range.
16 mins: HIGHLANDERS 0 HURRICANES 0
NO TRY! Luke Whitelock makes a strong run into the Hurricanes' 22 before offloading the ball to his Highlanders second-five Tei Walden. He is ankle tapped by Beauden Barrett and is tackled 5m short of the try-line. The Highlanders shift the ball to the right and lock Tom Franklin looks to be in for the first try but the last pass from Liam Coltman is ruled to be forward.
11 mins: HIGHLANDERS 0 HURRICANES 0
DEFENCE! It's been all the Hurricanes in the opening 10 minutes. The Canes opt to keep it in the forwards but Reed Prinsep can't hold onto the ball. Good awareness by Highlanders flanker James Lentjes to move quickly off the line, forcing Prinsep to drop the ball.
9 mins: HIGHLANDERS 0 HURRICANES 0
SCRUM! TJ Perenara goes down the blindside and puts in a clever grubber kick which sits up just outside the Highlanders' goal-line and Tevita Li is forced to play at it. He throws a risky pass to his second-five Tei Walden and he's tackled inside his own in-goal.
The Hurricanes have earned themselves an attacking 5m scrum.
7 mins: HIGHLANDERS 0 HURRICANES 0
PENALTY! The Hurricanes earn themselves a penalty 15m from the Highlanders goal line after the home team is penalised for an infringement at the breakdown. The Canes opt for a scrum.
2 mins: HIGHLANDERS 0 HURRICANES 0
NO TRY! Ardie Savea makes an excellent turnover deep inside his own 22 and TJ Perenara is off! He makes a sensational break down the left flank. He manages to link up with speedster Ben Lam but the left winger throws a wayward pass that Hurricanes fullback Chase Tiatia couldn't hold onto.
Lam would have been better off holding onto the ball and backing himself.
HIGHLANDERS 0 HURRICANES 0
KICK-OFF! And we are underway! As Marty Banks kicks the ball high and short towards the Hurricanes. His tactical kick-off works as the Highlanders manage to get the ball back.
PRE-MATCH:
The Highlanders have lost their last three Super Rugby matches and will be looking to get payback against the Canes after they went down 25-22 in round four last month in Wellington.
Marty Banks has been named to start at first-five for the Highlanders, with Aaron Smith and Waisake Naholo ruled out due to injuries.
The Highlanders have a solid forward pack with All Blacks players Luke Whitelock, Shannon Frizell and Liam Coltman all named to start.
Hurricanes newbie Kane Le'aupepe gets the nod to start at lock and Jordie Barrett pairs up with Ngani Laumape in the midfield.
The Canes have gone with just two backs on the bench - Finlay Christie and Matt Proctor. Which means TJ Perenara is a possibilty to play as back-up first-five if something is to go wrong with No.10 Beauden Barrett.
History is on the Highlanders side, with the home team winning 14 of their last 15 fixtures at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
TEAMS:
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (cc), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock (cc), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Reserves: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Rob Thompson.
Hurricanes: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Jordie Barrett, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara (c), 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Vaea Fifita, 5 Kane Le'aupepe, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Ben May, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Fraser Armstrong.
Reserves: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Liam Mitchell, 21 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 22 Finlay Christie, 23 Matt Proctor.
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