Highlanders upset Blues

Super Rugby Aotearoa

WHAT do you get if you have a turbocharged Tongan, an energetic Maori from Christchurch and a Japanese tackling and running machine?

An outstanding Highlanders loose forward trio which combined to give the home side a stunning 3529 win over the Blues at Forsyth Bar Stadium last night.

The Highlanders loose men of Shannon Frizell, Billy Harmon and Kazuki Himeno were simply fantastic in all they did, charging the ball up, supporting the ball carrier and not missing a tackle. They thoroughly outplayed their All Black opposites.

They were front and centre in a polished effort from the Highlanders, who took the physical approach to the Blues and more than matched them.

The Blues are a big, strong powerful side, but in the end they were bullied by a committed and dynamic Highlanders outfit who won all the key moments.

Frizell was all class and dominated his opposites, and Harmon was all around the field and tackled everything that moved, while Himeno was nearperfect on both attack and defence.

The Highlanders had led 2217 at the break and went further ahead after a fine turnover from Harmon. He grabbed the ball when the Blues mucked up their own scrum.

After a couple of phases, a long pass from Mitch Hunt left winger Jona Nareki to run into the corner.

A Hunt penalty then extended the lead to 3017 with just over 10 minutes left. The Blues came

Highlanders ................................... 35 Kazuki Himeno, Josh Ioane, Ngane Punivai, Jona Nareki, Michael Collins tries; Ioane 2 con, pen; Mitch Hunt pen Blues ............................................ 29 Jono Ruru, Rieko Ioane, Nepo Laulala, Hoskins Sotutu tries; Otere Black 3 con, pen

Halftime: 2217 Highlanders

Crowd: 13,379

back and scored a try to Nepo Laulala to make it interesting in the final minutes.

But a high shoulder charge from replacement prop Alex Hodgman had him redcarded, and took the wind out of the Blues’ sails.

Others to impress for the Highlanders were winger Nareki, first fiveeighth Hunt and hooker Ash Dixon. Prop Josh Hohneck made an impact when he came off the bench.

The Blues were first to score after five minutes when halfback Jono Ruru was standing at the end of the 5m lineout and showed jet speed to intercept a flat Aaron Smith pass to score.

The Highlanders, though, came back and grabbed a penalty through Josh Ioane, and on the quarterhour mark got their first try.

Livewire halfback Smith took a quick tap, and when he was stopped on the line the ball went to No 8 Himeno who barged his way over.

The Highlanders kept smashing it up and were getting metres.

Just after the 20minute mark, Blues No 8 Hoskins Sotutu was ruled to have kicked the ball while on the ground as the Highlanders pressed. He was yellow carded and from the