Super Rugby Pacific’s electric opening weekend continued with an exhilarating battle at Forsyth Barr Stadium, where the Highlanders hosted the Blues to kick-off their long awaited 2023 Super Rugby campaigns. The Blues ran away convincing 20-60 winners, capitalising on the home sides handling errors with ruthless efficiency throughout. 

The scoreline may appear harsh to the Highlanders who dominated territory and possession at times, but the ruthlessness of the Auckland outfit meant the result was rarely in doubt, despite spending 60 minutes of the game with a man in the sin bin.

An exhilarating first half began on a sour note, with the Highlanders losing number 8 Mikaele-Tu’u within the first 3 minutes to an apparent rib injury.

The teams exchanged early penalties before the Blues scored their first try of the game in the 13th minute through the unstoppable Mark Telea. Some slick Blues handling and a great offload by loosehead prop Tu’ungafasi put away Talea in the corner. Barrett converted from the touchline to add the extras.

The Blues next try came through Beauden Barrett, with the Blues showing their ruthlessness in attack. The Highlanders were building pressure close to the Blues 22 before a loose Mitch Hunt offload was countered with Finlay Christie and Talea slicing through the defence. Umaga-Jenson almost downed Telea before the line, but his offload bounced kindly into Barretts hands 3 metres out from the line, allowing the former world player of the year the easiest of finishes.

Barrett’s Crossfield kick on the 24th minute from a quick tap penalty put Caleb Clarke in a footrace with Umaga-Jenson, with Clarke making up 15 metres to catch the bouncing ball over the line and open his try scoring account of the year. Barrett slotted the conversion to add an extra 2 points.

The game looked out of hand for the Highlanders in the 27th minute when Rieko Ioane scored another beautifully worked team try. The Highlanders were again building pressure close to the Blues 22, but a loose Rhys Marshall offload attempt was picked up by Akira Ioane. A quick recycle allowed the Blues to take advantage of an overlap with slick handling from Rieko Ioane and Perofeta putting Telea away down the right flank. Telea drew the last man and hung a beautiful no look pop pass over his right shoulder to the supporting Ioane for another Blues try.

Highlanders fans were frustrated with a disallowed try in the 31st minute when scrum-half Fakatava was deemed by referee Paul Williams to have propelled himself on his knees for a second time and was penalised for double-movement.

The Highlanders finished the first half with all the momentum, giving the home fans plenty to cheer about as they put together a dominant 15 minutes to climb back into the game. Consistent pressure within the Blues 22 led to a Suafoa yellow card in the 34th minute, who was deemed to be cynically offside when shutting down a big overlap for the Highanders to the right hand side. The Highlanders continued to apply pressure and Mitch Hunt exposed the numbers advantage and scored a try in the 36th minute, cutting through the defensive line from 10 metres out.

Just before the half time whistle, a 50-22 gave the Highlanders an attacking 5 metre lineout. Repeated infringements resulted in a second Blues yellow for centre Tuivasa-Sheck. The resulting scrum penalty led to a Josh Timu try as the Highlanders ended the half with all the momentum to give the crowd hope leading into the second half, having finished the half with 60% of possession and 71% of the territory, but losing 20-31 to their Auckland rivals.

The second half was a more disciplined defensive effort from both sides, with attack from both sides curtailed after the non-stop fatiguing action of the first half. It wasn’t until the 53rd minute that the Blues extended their lead. Christie picked out Renata who ran a great line to extend the Blues lead.

The Highlanders didn’t give up and earned a lineout 10 metres from the Blues line with consistent pressure around the sixty minute mark. However a sloppy lineout and subsequent knock-on summed up their evening, failing to capitalise on the pressure and allowing the Blues to clear easily.

AJ Lam beat Mitch Hunt on the left wing for an easy finish, but the substitute knocked the ball on over the line, which he’ll no doubt hear about from his teammates for the coming season.

More slick Blues handling put the game away in the 69th minute as Papali’i scored in the corner, and a Telea intercept try from a sloppy Mitch Hunt pass 4 minutes later put a rubber stamp on a dominant Blues victory. Man of the match Telea beat several defenders again with ease to cap a forceful individual performance that will strengthen his All Black claim in this world cup year, with Rieko Ioane finishing with his second try of the day.

Final score: Highlanders 20 – 60 Blues