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Aaron Smith starts at halfback for the Highlanders against the Crusaders tonight. - Source: Photosport
Follow the action from Forsyth Barr Stadium as the
Highlanders host the Chiefs.
Full-time Chiefs 27-21 Highlanders
The Chiefs hold on in a thrilling finish. The Highlanders
fought hard to try and save their season late in the game, but in
the end the Chiefs just did enough. A bit of rust was evident from
both teams, but that is understandable after a three week break and
All Blacks coming back into the mix.
75min Chiefs 27-21 Highlanders
Hosea Gear gets over for the Highlanders! That's given
them a chance to keep their season alive. It was patient build up
before Gear picked the ball up from the base of the ruck, shook off
Leonard and dove over. It's good reward as he has threatened all
night. Delany converts to make it a six point game.
67min Chiefs 27-14 Highlanders
Aaron Smith gives his Manawatu and All Blacks team-mate
Aaron Cruden another chance to add three points after he leaves his
feet at a ruck. Cruden makes no mistake.
64min Chiefs 24-14 Highlanders
Adam Thomson gets himself in a bad position from a
defensive lineout and is penalised for offside. Cruden nails the
difficult penalty attempt, just in from the touchline to give the
Chiefs a bit more breathing room.
62min Chiefs 21-14 Highlanders
Toby Smith gets over the line from a Chiefs rolling maul.
However the video evidence is inconclusive and the try is
disallowed. They will get an attacking scrum.
50min Chiefs 21-14 Highlanders
Cruden has a penalty attempt, but this time he pushes the
shot wide.
46min Chiefs 21-14 Highlanders
Andrew Hore scores for the Highlanders. They capitalise
off the penalty from the SBW charge and kick for the corner. The
Chiefs actually contested the line-out and won it, but the ball
came loose and the Highlanders forwards were able to dive on the
ball over the line, with Hore able to ground it. The conversion
attempt from Noakes is a shocker.
45min Chiefs 21-9 Highlanders
SBW is penalised for a so-called shoulder charge. He
takes exception to being taken out by Jarrad Hoeata and a scuffle
follows between the two teams. Williams really looked to be giving
it to Hoeata verbally and got really fired up at the referee
about the call. Didn't look to be too much wrong with the intial
tackle.
43min Chiefs 21-9 Highlanders
Noakes has an opportunity to negate the Cruden penalty
with a shot of his own, but he pulls it badly.
41min Chiefs 21-9 Highlanders
The Highlanders are made to pay immediately for not
dealing with the restart. Adam Thomson spilled it allowing the
Chiefs to regather and Nasi Manu is penalised for joining the ruck
incorrectly. Cruden adds another three.
Half-time Chiefs 18-9 Highlanders
Cruden adds an extra three points right on the siren. The
Highlanders were looking to get something back to end the half, but
they lost the ball and the Chiefs put them under pressure. Adam
Thomson gave away the penalty coming into a ruck from the side, but
it may well have been worse than three points for the home side if
he hadn't.
The Highlanders dominated territory and possession for the half, but the Chiefs have displayed their deadly counter-attacking game that has put them at the top of the table. However the Highlanders came back from a similar half-time deficit against the Chiefs in round one, so anything can happen.
38min Chiefs 15-9 Highlanders
A frenetic period of play ends in a try for the Chiefs.
They were put on attack thanks to a charge down from massive prop
Ben Tameifuna. Sonny Bill Williams popped a nice pass to Brodie
Retallick who showed good nous to put Robbie Robinson through and
he finished the movement. Cruden can't convert, but that's
a big blow for the Highlanders just before the half.
30min Chiefs 10-9 Highlanders
Chris Noakes nails his third penalty. Chiefs No. 8 Kane
Thompson was the man penalised for an early tackle on Noakes as he
predicted the inside ball and mistimed his hit.
19min Chiefs 10-6 Highlanders
Another easy penalty for Chris Noakes and he narrows the
gap. Highlanders are dominating everything but the scoreboard so
far.
10min Chiefs 10-3 Highlanders
The Chiefs win a scrum penalty and Aaron Cruden makes no
mistake at all in nailing the shot at goal.
8min Chiefs 7-3 Highlanders
Noakes get an easy opportunity to redeem himself
immediately as the Chiefs give away a penalty in gimme range.
7min Chiefs 7-0 Highlanders
Chris Noakes has his first shot at goal of the evening,
but his long range effort falls short.
3min Chiefs 7-0 Highlanders
Dream start for the Chiefs as they score an early try.
Liam Messam puts Sonny Bill into a gaping hole in midfield.
Williams sets off down field, draws the defender and finds
Kerr-Barlow who shovelled it on to Tim Nanai Williams who had the
speed to finish. Aaron Cruden converts.
Pre-match
The Highlanders are the only Kiwi team to have lowered
the front-running Chiefs' colours this season way back in round
one. They also have home advantage for this encounter and are the
far more desperate team as they're locked in a four-way battle for
sixth spot.
But the Chiefs have the firepower, especially with backline stars Aaron Cruden and Sonny Bill Williams showing their brilliance in the All Blacks' 60-0 drubbing of Ireland last week.
Their back-row depth is highlighted by rising Test flanker Sam Cane being left on the bench. The Highlanders have also surprised by demoting veteran rake Andrew Hore in what should be a torrid battle up front.
Chiefs: 15-Robbie Robinson, 14-Tim Nanai-Williams, 13-Willison Jackson, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 11-Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10-Aaron Cruden, 9-Tawera Kerr-Barlow; 8-Kane Thompson, 7-Tanerau Latimer, 6-Liam Messam, 5-Brodie Retallick, 4-Craig Clarke (c), 3-Ben Tameifuna, 2-Mahonri Schwalger, 1-Toby Smith.
Reserves: Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo, Michael Fitzgerald, Sam Cane, Brendon Leonard, Andrew Horrell, Lelia Masaga.
Highlanders: 15-Ben Smith, 14-Kade Poki, 13-Tamati Ellison, 12-Phil Burleigh, 11-Hosea Gear, 10-Chris Noakes, 9-Aaron Smith, 8-Nasi Manu, 7-Tim Boys, 6-Adam Thomson, 5-Nick Crosswell, 4-Jarrad Hoeata, 3-Ma'afu Fia, 2-Jason Rutledge, 1-Jamie Mackintosh (c)
Reserves: Andrew Hore, Chris King, Josh Bekhuis, James Haskell, Jimmy Cowan, Mike Delany, Buxton Popoali'i