Smith inspires Highlanders
The adversity kings have done it again.
The unfancied Highlanders, on the back of stunning games from All Blacks Aaron Smith and Shannon Frizell, have stunned the Blues 35-29 in Dunedin last night, dealing the Blues’ finals hopes a potentially significant blow.
Blues prop Alex Hodgman was deservedly sent off in the final 10 minutes for a wild high shot on James Lentjes, capping a poor night for the visitors and opening the door for Michael Collins’ game-sealing try.
The 13,379 fans at Forsyth Barr Stadium witnessed a pulsating Super Rugby Aotearoa game, full of momentum swings and talking points.
The Highlanders had heroes everywhere, with co-captain Ash Dixon an absolute dynamo around the paddock, but coach Leon MacDonald will be bitterly disappointed with his Blues side.
In the face of staunch Highlanders resistance, the Blues became increasingly frustrated and discipline let them down on multiple occasions, even before Hodgman’s red card.
After trailing 22-17 at halftime, the All Blacks-stacked Blues had the Highlanders on the rack in the 10
minutes after the break, with power runners Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane rampant.
However, the Highlanders’ scramble defence was outstanding, with Josh Ioane and Mitch Hunt pulling off desperate, trysaving tackles on Clarke.
The Highlanders’ scrum then got to work, with replacement prop Ethan de Groot getting the better of All Black Nepo Laulala, and getting under his skin.
Jona Nareki was the eventual beneficiary of that scrum pressure, finishing off some sustained pressure to give the Highlanders at 27-17 lead after 58 minutes.
A Hunt penalty about 10 minutes later gave the Highlanders a 13-point buffer, and although that was cut to six when a fired-up Laulala powered over from close range, Hodgman’s moment of madness saw the Blues’ hopes of a win disappear.