Highlanders 44 28 Waratahs
Fulltime: Both sides out on their feet after that last 15 minutes...Highlanders always looked like they could find a way - but Mumm's early second half yellow card was a big turning point and the homeside was able to stretch out the lead, but full credit to the Waratahs who never gave up. Ben Smith was brilliant, Fekitoa continues to show his growing class..he was very good tonigh and Sopoaga showed some nice touches in the last 15 minutes. Will post the video highlights in about 15 minutes. Thanks for joining me.
77mins: TRY WARATAHS: Jake Gordon - There goes the bonus point....Penalty midfield for offside play from the Landers..Gordon takes it quickly and sprints away untouched to score under the posts...Foley throws it over.
74mins: TRY HIGHALNDERS: Lima Sopoaga - Brilliant break out from the kick-off..Elliot Dixon breaks free and send Naholo away down the touchline...Naholo does his best Jonah Lomu impersonation and bumps off Hegarty....Naholo puts Lima away and he scores under the posts...Breath-taking rugby. Lima converts..as it stands the Highlanders have a bonus point win which would put them in front of the Chiefs and Hurricanes..for now.
72mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS: Daniel Lienart-Brown - Highlanders may have scored a great try here...Sopoaga skins two defenders..runs 30m, offloads to Ben Smith who draws Folau but the support player is replacement prop Sio Halanukonuka..he smokes it 20m but is literally an inch short but places the ball and it's carnage in the in goal....Daniel Lienart-Brown is claimiing a try and the video ref says yes!!! Great try that. Lima converts.
70mins: TRY WARATAHS: Jake Gordon - The halfback crashed over! - Nice set play in midfield from the Tahs...the play through a couple of phases until Gordon snipes and scores..Foley throws it over and the Tahs have some life.
69mins: Waratahs have a window of opportunity - lineout 30m out.
67mins: Ben Smith shows signs he could play openside as he wins his side a penalty at ruck time..that was like McCaw in his prime. Highlanders have a lineout on the Tahs 10m line.
64mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS: Rob Thompson - That should be the game...Clinical play from the homeside...Smith with a lovely ruck pass to Sopoaga who puts Thompson in pretty much under the posts...Lima makes no mistake and the Highlanders are almost out of sight.
63mins: Game getting messy with all the substitutes on the field...another scrumathon..three resets..O'Keefe getting frustrated with the front rown. Eventually we get a stable scrum and Sopoaga, on for Banks, with a lovely kick that Cam Clark runs into touch. Scrum 5m for the Landers.
60mins: Micheal Hooper doing what he does best and earning his side a penalty with great work at the breakdown...I think it was Aaron Smith who didn't release the ball and the Tahs with the clearing penalty.
59mins: Highlanders have a penalty just inside their own half for a high tackle by Jed Holloway on Buckman. Lineout Landers on the Tahs 10m line.
57mins: Waratahs going nowhere on attack..shofting the ball from side-to-side....Foley gets an up and under away and Banks has knocked it on cold...Scrum Tahs..their own 10m line.
54mins: The Highlanders are back on attack - attacking lineout 30m out. Ben Smith glides through in midfield, Naholo bumps off a couple but ends up with a foot in touch. Waratahs with a defensive lineout.
51mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS - Tavita Li - Take a bow Malakai Fekitoa...A Beauden Barrett like kick in the midfield..collected by Li who goes over untouched...Banks misses from in front!! Poor miss that, but Fekitoa doing his All Black chances no harm tonight.
50mins: Teams engaging in a bit of force back which the Highlanders are winning..and they win a penalty which aaron Smith takes quickly..Highlanders hot on attack 20m out.
47mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS: Liam Coltman - Classic forward play from the Highlanders, Coltman ends up over the line with the ball...your stock standard lineout drive. Banks with a rare miss..Big 8 minutes coming up here for the Waratahs with one man short.
45mins: Highlanders with an attacking chance here, lineout 8m out from the Waratahs line. Coltman can't find his man and the Tahs clear their lines...referee wants to have a look at possible foul play..looks like it's on Elliot Dixon who is down. Dean Mumm put him in a dangerous position and Dixon landed badly....yellow card for Mumm. Lineout Highlanders.
43mins: Ben Smith breaks through again...another chip and chase...Phipps manages to get back in time and it will be a 22 drop out.....Smith is looking very very good.
42mins: Waratahs hot on attack here...Foley tries to ghost his way through..Buckman rips the ball away and the Highlanders break out from inside their own goal area!!..Banks is away and he beats Naiyarvaro..chip and chase but the ball floats out...great stuff.
Second-Half - Foley gets the game back underway...Tony Brown wants his side to eliminate their mistakes...I would agree!
Halftime: And that will be the half - great last 20 from the Waratahs - Highlanders played most of the rugby early but teh NSW side is here to play too. Good half of rugby..be back in 10.
38mins: TRY WARATAHS - Taqele Naiyaravoro - The big fella just Mike Cat'd Ben Smith (1995 reference)....Phipps with a huge cutout pass that fell beautifuly into the big wingers hands and he crashes over in teh corner. awesome stuff from the Tahs and Foley bangs it over from the sideline. Waratahs have the lead!
36mins: Some messy play - the Waratahs had a chance down the Highlanders end but aaron Smith scored the turnover - the Landers break out through Naholo but Dixon is penalised at the ruck for diving over the top. Foley will have a shot from 30m out....10m in.
FYI the Warriors lad the Baby Broncos 16-0 at halftime..you can follow our updates here
32mins: PENALTY GOAL HIGHLANDERS: Banks smashes it down the middle - homeside out to a six-point lead.
31mins: Huge scrum for the Highlanders...they destroyed the Tahs scrum there...O'keefe says penalty and Banks will have a shot..30m out pretty much in front.
30mins: Great ball retention from the Highlanders but they aren't going very far...Aaron Smith doing a nice job though..eventually Banks kicks it down field and then Folau smashes it back to Ben Smith. Long period of play here. Another couple of kicking exchanges, Tavita Li with a cheeky chip and collects it but he's knocked it on at the tackle. Phew..that was hard to follow. Scrum Tahs on their 30m.
27mins: Brilliant from Buckman..the Highlanders do well at lineout time..Waratahs shift it out wide...Buckman with the spot tackle midfield on Sekope Kepu, referee says maul and the Tahs can't free the ball..defensive scrum Highlanders.
25mins: Another Tahs penalty....Highlanders penalised for taking the lineout down....Siate Tokolahi...another lineput coming up.
24mins: Waratahs earn a scrum penalty.....Foley kicks for touch..lineout on the 22.
23mins: Nothing happening - scrumathon..three resets now...Its the Waratahs feed on the Landers 10m line.
22mins: Waratahs throwing the ball around...looking to create something but the Landers defend well...Foley gets a kick away but it's too long and Ben Smith claims the mark.
19mins: TRY WARATAHS - Israel Folau - The Tahs attack with intent..Michael Hooper breaks down the flank...2 phases and Folau eases past a poor effort from Elliot Dixon and scores under the posts...untouched from 30m..lovely run....Foley makes no mistake....Tahs back in it.
15mins: TRY HIGHLANDERS: Richard Buckman - Foley attempts a cheeky grubber from inside his 22...Whitelock gets a foot to it and Buckman cleans it up and score in the corner - Okay wait they are going to have another look at this...Buckman may have been in front..hold the phone!! - Try is awarded - that was very close I must say..home town decision maybe. Banks smashes it over from the sideline...Fins Up!!
13mins: PENALTY GOAL HIGHLANDERS: Banks nails it from 50m - he is kicking at 92% in 2017. Highlanders deserve their lead.
12mins: Penalty to the homeside - Michael Hooper with an illegal turnover....The Landers will take a shot at three through Banks.
11mins: Waratahs with a well executed exit play from scrum time - Foley finds touch on the Highlanders 10m line.
9mins: Ben Smith is looking fantastic after his month-long layoff - Highlanders attacking with intent at the contact area but Buckman knocks the ball on at the 7th phase...the Waratahs are very much on the rack but Highlanders making a few mistakes. Waratahs scrum on their 22.
7mins: Highlanders looking great with ball in hand but a silly mistake from Aki Seiuli who is penalised for a double-movement...the probably would have scored at the next phase. Clearing penalty for the Tahs.
6mins: Poor kick from Foley and the Highlanders go on attack through Tavita Li.....Rob Horne is penalised for a high shot and the Landers turn down an easy 2 points and will take a lineout.
4mins: Ben Smith with a lovely first touch - powers his way into the Tahs half - 3 phases later and the Waratahs earn a penalty - Dillon Hunt holding on at the ruck. penalty Tahs inside theor own 22.
2mins: The Tahs keeping the ball alive nicely, have gone through 7 phases and have made their way into the Highlanders half, eventually Naiyaravoro is taking over the touchline by Fekitoa, but the pass was ruled forward..Highlanders scrum on theor 10m line.
Kick-off: Referee O'keefe says play and it will be Marty Banks to get the game underway...the ball kicked deep into Tahs territory and the visitors clear.
7.30pm: Earlier this afternoon, the Cheetahs smashed the Sunwolves 47-7..in case you care.
7.25pm: No late changes to report...in case you missed it, one of the stars of the Highlanders 2015 championship run, Shane Christie announced yesterday that he won't play again this season due to concussion symptoms.
7.23pm: Evening everyone, the Southerners looking for their 10th straight win tonight – they are big favourites against a Waratahs side that has disappointed. It's been officially 365 days since an Australian side beat a New Zealand side in Super Rugby. Boom! #stats.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the Highlanders hosting the Waratahs at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 7:30 pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above as Ben Smith clarifys his status for the Samoan Test match.
Lineups
Highlanders
1. Aki Seiuli, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Alex Ainley, 5.Tom Franklin, 6. Elliot Dixon, 7. Dillon Hunt, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Marty Banks, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Richard Buckman, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Ben Smith (cc)
Reserves: 16. Ash Dixon (cc), 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18. Siosuia Halanukonuka,19. Joe Wheeler, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Lima Sopoaga, 23. Rob Thompson
Waratahs
1. Tom Robertson, 2. Tolu Latu, 3. Sekope Kepu, 4. Dean Mumm, 5. Will Skelton, 6. Ned Hanigan, 7. Michael Hooper (c), 8. Michael Wells, 9. Nick Phipps, 10. Bernard Foley, 11. Cam Clark, 12. David Horwitz, 13. Rob Horne, 14. Taqele Naiyaravoro, 15. Israel Folau
Reserves: 16. Damien Fitzpatrick, 17. Paddy Ryan, 18. Angus Taavao, 19. David McDuling, 20. Jed Holloway, 21. Jake Gordon, 22. Bryce Hegarty, 23. Irae Simone
Match facts and stats
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistants: James Doleman and Cam Stone
TMO: Shane McDermott
The Highlanders have won each of their last three games against the Waratahs after winning just three of their previous nine clashes.
The Waratahs haven’t won at Dunedin since Round 3, 2008, losing three consecutive games to the Highlanders since that fixture.
The Highlanders have won 15 of their last 18 games at home, including each of their last four, only once losing to a team from outside New Zealand in that period (Sharks, April 2016).
The Highlanders have won 10 of their last 11 games against Australian opposition, including each of their last five; never before in Super Rugby history have they won more such fixtures in succession.
The Waratahs have won on just two of their last 14 excursions to New Zealand.
Past meetings
Head to head: Played 21, Highlanders 8, Waratahs 13, draws 0
In Dunedin: Played 10, Highlanders 4, Waratahs 6, draws 0
Last time played: Highlanders 30 def Waratahs 26, March 18, 2016
Last time in New Zealand: Highlanders 26 def Highlanders 19, March 14, 2015
Head-to-head: Highlanders - $1.13 Waratahs - $5.60
Pre-match banter - Ben Smith to miss Highlanders clash against British and Irish Lions due to All Blacks commitments
Highlanders captain Ben Smith said there was never a chance he would skip an All Blacks game to play for his beloved Super Rugby franchise.
The All Blacks fullback has a clause in his contract allowing him to play for the Highlanders over the national side if the situation allowed.
The clause was initiated with an eye to the British and Irish Lions series, but prior to the confirmation of the tourists' schedule.
"There's no doubt I love playing for the Highlanders," Smith told reporters on Friday.
"It's awesome we're getting a crack at the British and Irish Lions and that's going to be massive for the team, but if selected I'd love to play for the All Blacks."
Since the schedule was announced, the All Blacks have added a pre-Lions clash with Samoa in Auckland three days after the Highlanders-Lions match.
"Looking back at the time (of the clause), there was no (Highlanders-Lions) game scheduled, so I thought it might've been possible to play for both and not been an issue.
"But things have changed since then."
The Highlanders captain returns on Saturday after being sidelined by injury for the last three weeks.
In that time, the southerners have recorded wins in South Africa against the Cheetahs (45-41) and Bulls (17-10), before notching an eighth consecutive competition victory with a convincing 55-6 win over the Force in Perth.
The Waratahs arrive in Dunedin after dismantling the Rebels 50-23 in Sydney. It was their fourth win in 11 matches, and leaves them sitting four points behind the conference-leading Brumbies.
Led by the Wallabies trio of Bernard Foley, Michael Hooper and Israel Folau, the visitors will be eyeing their first win in Dunedin since 2008, and Smith is under no illusion about the challenge they pose.
"They played really well against the Rebels, and showed when they really nail their game they can be really dangerous.
"I'm sure they're going to come here tomorrow and want to put pressure on us and attack, because that's what they've been doing.Hello and welcome to live updates of the Highlanders hosting the Waratahs at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
