It’s a super thriller down in Dunedin

INSIDE centre Teihorangi Walden scored two tries when the Auckland Blues were reduced to 14 men to give the Otago Highlanders a 41-34 victory in Dunedin yesterday.

The Highlanders trailed 31-24 when Blues flanker Antonio Kiri Kiri was yellow carded for a high tackle and the home side seized on the opportunity to take a lead they did not relinquish.

Walden’s centre partner Rob Thompson also grabbed two tries, while flyhalf Bryn Gatland, winger Matt Duffie and number eight Akira Ioane (two) replied for the visitors.

Neither team was perfect in their first competitive match of the season as they struggled with the new laws at the breakdown that does not allow defenders to attack the ball.

The lead changed six times in the first 40 minutes, with Thompson scoring two tries for the home side to go with Lima Sopoaga’s opening penalty. The Blues, however, struck back every time the Highlanders’ scored with Gatland, Duffie and Ioane all crossing. Gatland’s penalty on the stroke of halftime to give his side a 24-17 lead at the break was the first time either side had scored twice in succession.

All Blacks scrumhalf Aaron Smith’s took a quick tap penalty putting prop Siate Tokolahi over, before Ioane responded within seconds of the restart.

Kiri Kiri’s yellow card, however, allowed Smith to take control of the match with his tactical kicking and speedy passing. Smith’s wide pass put Walden into space for his first try, with the inside centre grabbing his second shortly after when he combined with Thompson to grab a chip kick over the defence.

Replacement flyhalf Fletcher Smith added a penalty to give them home side a seven-point advantage. – Reuters