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Highlanders 49 - 12 Waratahs
80 min: TRY - HIghlanders, what a finish to the match - Rob Thompson slices through and scores! Elliot Dixon to take the kick. It's good. 49 - 12 to the Highlanders, final score.
79 min: Walden knocks the ball on in contact - on minute left in the Waratahs' season.
75 min: The Highlanders are starting to build momentum as they search for their first points of the second half.
72 min: TRY - Waratahs, a really nice counter attacking try from the visitors and they have the first points of the second half. Mack Mason scores. Kick is wide. Highlanders 42 - 12 Waratahs.
71 min: The Highlanders win a turnover and kick the ball into the Tahs' half.
69 min: Another penalty for the Tahs. Offside called on Luke Whitelock.
68 min: Waratahs get themselves some good field position - as they kick for touch after a penalty.
64 min: The Highlanders have the ball going forward but McKay knocks the ball on, sloppy.
61 min: The Waratahs get their hands on the ball again and look to attack - the Highlanders defence standing tall.
57 min: The centurion, Liam Coltman goes off the field to a big applause.
55 min: Another mistake from the Waratahs, Newsome's kick goes too far and the Landers have the ball just 40 metres out from the try line.
53 min: The visitors earn some field position but it's a knock on - it's just not going well for the Waratahs tonight.
51 min: Waratahs win a much needed penalty - they kick the ball out.
46 min: Another penalty goes against the Tahs - Highlanders will kick for touch.
42 min: The Tahs - who are with 14 men win a turnover on half way.
41 min: The second half is underway.
Aaron Smith kicks the ball into touch and it's half-time.
39 min: TRY - Highlanders, it's all too easy for the Landers, this time it's Teihorangi Walden who scores - kick is good. HIghlanders 42 - 7 Waratahs.
38 min: The Waratahs win a penalty on the scrum and kick for touch. It's looking very good if you're a Landers fan.
35 min: TRY - Penalty try, off the lineout drive and Tom Robertson enters from the side - ref seems to think he stopped a certain try. He gets a yellow card too. Highlanders 35 - 7 Waratahs.
33 min: Massive from the Highlanders - driving over the tackle to win a penalty and start a line drive.
31 min: The Waratahs lose the ball before Jackson Hemopo sends Li away who makes a mini break - but then loses the ball.
28 min: TRY - Waratahs. There's alot going on here guys - the Tahs start a counter attack, Rona does really well to find Michael Wells who gives the ball to Alex Newsome who scores. Kick is good. Highlanders 28 - 7 Waratahs.
24 min: TRY - Highlanders, Aaron Smith finds Naholo close to the line - he's too big, too strong and goes over for another try. Kick is good. HIghlanders 28 - 0 Waratahs.
23 min: It's all going the way of the Landers - they win another penalty and will kick for the corner.
22 min: The Waratahs finally get their hands on the ball before kicking it - Li takes the catch and the Landers are back on the charge.
19 min: TRY - Highlanders, the Landers go 19 phases close to the line before the defence of the Waratahs finally gives in and Tom Franklin dives over - dominance early on for the hosts. Kick is good. Highlanders 21 - 0 Waratahs.
16 min: Liam Squire goes on a huge run - beating three defenders and the Landers are 15m out.
14 min: The Landers get the ball back - but a mistake from Aaron Smith who kicks the ball out on the full.
10 min: TRY - HIghlanders, awesome from the hosts - Teihorangi Walden makes the initial break before giving it to Naholo, they recycle and spin the ball wide to Tavita Li on the other wing - he scores. Kick is good. HIghlanders 14 - 0 Waratahs.
7 min: TRY - Highlanders, a mistake from Will Miller who made a heap of ground to gather the ball from a kick but he spills the ball forward to Josh McKay who scores the opening try. Kick is good. Highlanders 7 - 0 Waratahs.
5 min: Good work at the breakdown from the Tahs - they win a turnover and kick it deep into the Highlanders territory.
3 min: Tavita Li knocks on the ball in the air - but he was tackled in the air so the Highlanders win a penalty and kick for touch.
2 min: Lots of kicking from both sides early on - mainly up and unders before Smith drills one along the ground into touch.
1 min: Kickoff here in a cold night in Invercargill.
Liam Coltman leads the team out as he gets ready to play his 100th match for the Landers.
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Kia ora, good evening and welcome to Newshub's coverage of the Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Waratahs.
Pre-game chat: Highlanders' Ben Smith ruled out of critical clash with Waratahs
The Highlanders will be without the services of lynchpin Ben Smith for their pivotal Super Rugby clash with the Waratahs on Friday.
Despite strong suggestions from Tuesday's training that he'd make his comeback from injury in Invercargill, the All Blacks star's troublesome hamstring hasn't sufficiently recovered to take the field.
The Highlanders need to earn a bonus point win and hope other results go their way to advance to the Super Rugby playoffs, meaning the France-bound Smith may well have played his last game in blue and gold.
The 33-year-old hasn't featured for the southerners since Week 12 when he was forced from the field during the draw with the Chiefs.
He practiced without restrictions on Tuesday, but coach Aaron Mauger has confirmed that, despite Smith's best efforts, he wasn't quite yet up to speed.
"Ben worked extremely hard to be available for his team this week," said Mauger. "Unfortunately he is still a little short of being match ready."
Josh McKay will again step in to claim the number 15 jersey.
Meanwhile, a milestone looms for All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman, who will bring up his 100th game for the franchise.
The four-test international made his debut for the Dunedin-based franchise back in 2013, and was recently voted their Player of the Year for 2019.
In the one change to the starting lineup, Teihorangi Walden slots back into second-five to pair with the in-from Rob Thompson, while Daniel Lienert-Brown and Elliot Dixon return to make their impact off the bench.
The Waratahs will be without key players Michael Hooper, Kurtley Beale, Bernard Foley, Rob Simmons and Sekope Kepu, who will be taking their final Wallabies rest week.
Highlanders: 1-Ayden Johnstone, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Jackson Hemopo, 5-Tom Franklin, 6-Liam Squire, 7-James Lentjes, 8-Luke Whitelock (c), 9-Aaron Smith, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Tevita Li, 12- Teihorangi Walden, 13-Rob Thompson, 14-Waisake Naholo, 15-Josh McKay
Reserves: 16-Ash Dixon, 17- Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18-Siate Tokolahi, 19-Josh Dickson, 20-Shannon Frizell, 21-Kayne Hammington, 22-Marty Banks, 23- Elliot Dixon
Waratahs: 1-Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2-Damien Fitzpatrick, 3-Tom Robertson, 4-Ned Hanigan, 5-Tom Staniforth, 6-Hugh Sinclair, 7-Will Miller, 8-Michael Wells, 9-Nick Phipps, 10-Mack Mason, 11-Curtis Rona, 12-Lalakai Foketi, 13-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Cameron Clark, 15-Alex Newsome
Reserves:16-Andrew Tuala, 17-Rory O'connor, 18-Shambeckler Vui, 19-Ryan Mccauley, 20-Jed Holloway, 21-Jack Dempsey, 22-Jake Gordon, 23-Tautalatasi Tasi
