LIVE MATCH COVERAGE
Super Rugby
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27 |
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41 |
Highlanders
Chiefs
| Kick-off local time | : | Fri, 22 February 2013 - 19h35 |
| Kick-off | : | Fri, 22 February 2013 - 08h35 |
| Venue | : | Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin |
| Referee | : | TBC |
| Match status | : | Result |
| Highlanders | Chiefs | |
|---|---|---|
| Tries | Ben Smith (12min) and Hosea Gear (39min) | Patrick Osborne (45min) and Asaeli Tikoirotuma (61min) |
| Penalties | ||
| Conversions | ||
| Penalty tries | ||
| Yellow cards | ||
| Red cards | ||
| DGs |
Commentary
| Minute | Commentary |
|---|---|
80 |
FULL-TIME is called on an absolute cracker of an opening game in the New Zealand conference. The lead shifted hands but ultimately the Chiefs just had far too much in the tank and showed their true class by going behind and working incredibly hard to take it away from the Highlanders. No compromise, physical rugby today and it took it's toll as there were a couple injuries but a great game all-round. Join us for the next game between the Rebels and the Brumbies from Melbourne. |
78 |
Chiefs just looking to shut it out completely. The Chiefs really do look like defending champions today. Top effort from the side from Hamilton. |
75 |
Highlanders throwing some 50/50 passes now as they try and get something out of this game as they push for their fourth try and a bonus point. |
73 |
Liam Coltman takes Latima down after he puts a chip through. Anscombe steps up and slots the PENALTY from about 30 metres. |
70 |
Anscombe kicks a great PENALTY from about 50 metres out as the Chiefs go into an 11 point lead. Too far gone now one suspects. |
66 |
Absolutely phenomenal passage of play from both sides as the game went end-to-end without a stoppage in play for about 4 minutes and it ends with the Highlanders losing the ball with the line beckoning and Nanai-Williams snaps it up and runs 70-odd metres to score his second TRY. Anscombe kicks the CONVERSION as they put a little daylight between the teams. |
61 |
Chiefs take a quick tap from the half-way line and it's a phenomenal build up as Asaeli Tikoirotuma goes over untouched to score the Chiefs' third TRY and Anscombe adds the CONVERSION. Chiefs take the lead once again. |
59 |
All Highlanders as Cruden is smashed backwards after he tries to counter from deep. Highlanders have a scrum on the Chiefs 10-metre line just left of centre field but the Chiefs win the penalty at the scrum as Murray can't hold the scrum up. |
57 |
Chiefs blown-up right in front of their own posts as Sam Cane is blown-up for stealing the ball illegally on the ground. Sopoaga kicks the PENALTY and extends the Highlanders lead. |
54 |
Both sides guilty of conceding 10 turn-overs which is danger for them both as they have both been great on the counter-attack today. |
52 |
10 handling errors from the Chiefs as they have battled to string together much of substance in the second half so far. The Highlanders have got their tails up and are driving off the line-out towards the Chiefs 22. |
47 |
Highlanders attack from deep through the back three as Kade Poki gets it with not much on and he creates something as he palms off Nanai-Williams and then shows too much toe and goes over for the TRY. Sopoaga adds the extra 2 points through the CONVERSION. Highlanders back in front. What a game! |
45 |
Sam Cane is back on so it must have just been a concussion bin. Chiefs hit back straight away! Great hands to finish off the move as Osborne goes over in the right-hand corner to score the TRY for the Chiefs. Anscombe pulls the conversion wide. |
42 |
Chance for the Highlanders to take the lead right after the break as the Chiefs are at sixes-and-sevens on defence and Cruden is forced to give away the PENALTY and Sopoaga kicks it from the 22 and about 18 metres from the right-hand touch. Highlanders take the lead. |
41 |
Its Sopoaga who gets us under-way for the second 40 with the Highlanders playing towards the Zoo end of the ground and the Highlanders are putting early pressure on the Chiefs. |
40 |
HALF-TIME at the Forsyth Barr Stadium as the Highlanders take a bit of momentum into the shed after that late try. The game has seen a slight dominance from the Chiefs as they have been the team getting over the gain-line more often than the Highlanders but the team from Dunedin has shown glimpses throughout the half that you cannot write them off. If they manage to sort out their defence in the second half they could prove to be too much for the Chiefs. Action packed second 40 minutes coming up! |
39 |
The Highlanderstake points as Hosea Gear makes something out of nothing and scores in the corner after he shrugs of a couple to go over. Too strong and too quick. Sopoaga kicks the CONVERSION from the corner as Nasi Manu hobbles off the field. |
38 |
Highlanders have a great chance to take points away as the Chiefs battle from the scrum and clear but not too much distance from Kerr-Barlow. Highlanders working it as they enter the Chiefs 22 |
35 |
Highlander with a massive scrum and win the penalty and kick to the corner. They are building up beautifully but they knock it on in midfield. Scrum to the Chiefs in front of their own posts. |
32 |
The Highlanders win a penalty just inside the Chiefs' half as Pauliasi Manu is blown-up for going straight down on the loose-head side of the scrum. The kick was missed by Sopoaga. Sam Cane leaves the pitch with an injury and is replaced by Tanerau Latimer |
29 |
Highlanders manage to keep the ball for a bit longer and they looking to attack out-wide as they find some space on the right hand touchline but they are taken out and the Chiefs win their line-out and Josh Bekhuis is blown up for pushing in the line-out the Chiefs clear. |
26 |
Highlanders manage to kick deep off the re-start and are putting a little bit of pressure on the Chiefs and win a penalty just short of the Chief's 22 about 20 metres from the right-hand touchline. |
23 |
Chiefs are causing all sorts of problems here as they throwing the ball around and the Highlanders can't handle it. Sam Cane had two men over on his right but cut back and is stopped metres short. They win the PENALTY for the Highlanders being offside. Anscombe doesn't miss again as the Chiefs really put the hammer down now. |
22 |
Anscombe gets another shot at goal and slots the PENALTY for the Chiefs. |
19 |
Not enough time to catch our breath here! The scrum has actually become an issue for both sides but it seems that the Highlanders rush defence in midfield could be a problem with some quick feet out wide for the Chiefs. Still 10-7 to the Chiefs after the first quarter. |
15 |
Nanai-Williams with a piece of individual brilliance to score the first TRY for the Chiefs as there is a gaping hole in the Highlanders midfield and Nanai-Williams canters through it and turns on the gas to get around Ben Smith and score in the Corner. Anscombe kicks the CONVERSION from the corner. |
12 |
Amazing hands from Highlanders fullback Ben Smith to take a pass around his ankles and bundles over for the TRY for the Highlanders. Sopoaga kicks an easy CONVERSION. Highlanders showing exactly what they can do. |
11 |
Great steal from Bekhuis after a spoilt line-out as the Highlanders string some great phases together as they push the Chiefs all the way back to their line. |
9 |
Nanai-Williams wins a great penalty for the Chiefs as he tries to steal and the Highlanders are blown for holding on. Chiefs getting over the gain-line all the time. |
7 |
Highlanders have the ball for a good period and send it both ways but don't seem to be making inroads into the Chiefs defence. Scrum could be the Highlanders downfall today. |
3 |
Sopoaga has a little charge but is isolated and Sam Cane is all over the ball and wins the PENALTY for the Chiefs. Anscombe steps up and kicks it over from about 40 metres. Chiefs lead 3-0 |
2 |
Super Rugby underway and the Chiefs show some early signs of what they are going to do. Just throwing it around in the midfield but Cruden is scragged by Aaron Smith as he knocks on. First scrum and the Chiefs put real pressure on the Highlanders. |
0 |
We are underway as the Chiefs kick-off and they are playing from left to right. Excitement is huge as Anscombe gets us going. Some early pressure form the Chiefs as the Highlanders set it up and clear it deep. |
-5 |
We are ready to go and the roof is on at the Forsyth Barr Stadium. Late change for the Chiefs as Rhys Marshall comes into the front row in the place of the injured Hika Elliot and Toby Smith comes onto the bench. |
-30 |
We are 30 minutes away from the opening fixture in the New Zealand conference between the Highlanders and the Chiefs in Dunedin. Massive start for both teams with the defending champions looking to make sure that last season was not just a once-off. The Highlanders have made a number of signings in the off-season and will hope that they can step-up and make a massive difference at the franchise. |
Highlanders
| Players | |
|---|---|
| 15 | Ben Smith |
| 14 | Trent Renata |
| 13 | Tamati Ellison |
| 12 | Shaun Treeby |
| 11 | Hosea Gear |
| 10 | Colin Slade |
| 9 | Fumiaki Tanaka |
| 8 | Mose Tuiali'i |
| 7 | John Hardie |
| 6 | Jarrad Hoeata |
| 5 | Josh Bekhuis |
| 4 | Brad Thorn |
| 3 | Ma'afu Fia |
| 2 | Andrew Hore |
| 1 | Jamie Mackintosh |
| Substitutes | |
|---|---|
| 22 | Ma'a Nonu |
| 21 | Hayden Parker |
| 20 | Aaron Smith |
| 19 | TJ Ioane |
| 18 | Elliot Dixon |
| 17 | Bronson Murray |
| 16 | Liam Coltman |
Chiefs
| Players | |
|---|---|
| 15 | Robbie Robinson |
| 14 | Patrick Osborne |
| 13 | Charlie Ngatai |
| 12 | Bundee Aki |
| 11 | Asaeli Tikoirotuma |
| 10 | Aaron Cruden |
| 9 | Tawera Kerr-Barlow |
| 8 | Matt Vant Leven |
| 7 | Tanerau Latimer |
| 6 | Liam Messam |
| 5 | Brodie Retallick |
| 4 | Craig Clarke |
| 3 | Ben Tameifuna |
| 2 | Hika Elliot |
| 1 | Pauliasi Manu |
| Substitutes | |
|---|---|
| 22 | Lelia Masaga |
| 21 | Dan Waenga |
| 20 | Augustine Pulu |
| 19 | Sam Cane |
| 18 | Michael Fitzgerald |
| 17 | Toby Smith |
| 16 | Mahonri Schwalger |