Blues vs Highlanders

All the action in the Super Rugby quarter-final between the Blues and Highlanders.

That try belatedly sparked the Blues. Now on the front foot, Barrett cashed in. This time, Ioane could not be denied after flying onto a short ball from brother Rieko. This wasn't the most polished performance the Blues have delivered this season. Over 23,500 turned out at Eden Park on Saturday night. At the half hour mark Marty Banks extended the Highlanders' lead to 6-0 but the Blues finally found their groove with a string of quick rucks and offloads that went to hand. Far from it.

Two strikes from stand-in skipper Beauden Barrett propelled the Blues to their 14th straight win of the season, and into next Saturday's home semifinal ...

That try belatedly sparked the Blues. Now on the front foot, Barrett cashed in. This time, Ioane could not be denied after flying onto a short ball from brother Rieko. This wasn't the most polished performance the Blues have delivered this season. Over 23,500 turned out at Eden Park on Saturday night. At the half hour mark Marty Banks extended the Highlanders' lead to 6-0 but the Blues finally found their groove with a string of quick rucks and offloads that went to hand. Far from it.

How did the Highlanders rate in their defeat at the hands of the Blues in their Super Rugby Pacific quarter-final showdown?

On in 50th minute. On in 53rd minute. On in 33rd minute. Looked good with the ball in hand later in the game. Knocked the ball on when a try was on the cards early in the final quarter. Won his side a penalty at the breakdown with his first involvement of the game. Dropped a high ball in the 58th minute with AJ Lam pouncing to score a try and was at fault for Roger Tuiavasa-Sheck’s late try too. Put his hand up on attack, finishing behind Akira Ioane as the forward with the second-most carries in the match. Raked off plenty of metres with his penalty kicks to the sideline but missed touch in the 35th minute, handing the Blues a counter-attack, and Beauden Barrett found his way over the line moments later. Strong in the first quarter, ensuring the Blues struggled to get any quick ball at the breakdown, but faded as the Blues built into the game. Clocked up plenty of metres just running on and off the park. Got the better of All Blacks counterpart Ofa Tuungafasi in the Highlanders’ first scrum of the game then did the same in the first scrum of the second half.

Costly red card as Blues make Highlanders pay. At Eden Park, Auckland: Blues 35 (Akira Ioane try 31min, Beauden Barrett 2 tries 35min, 48min, AJ Lam try ...

We’ll give it to Barrett who offered a timely reminder that he’s back playing the rugby of his life. A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. Had to be Makalio’s brain explosion when his shoulder thudded into Robinson’s head area at a breakdown, and the visitors’ chances went down the toilet with it. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment. With handling clearly tricky, just too many errors for this to be a classic. A procession of Blues handling errors also helped their cause.

Highlanders pay big price for moment of madness by Andrew Makalio as Blues score twice against 14 men.

A beautiful mind crunching all the player stats. If quality local sport journalism is important to you, become a Stuff supporter today. You need journalists close enough to smell the liniment.

The Highlanders, to be fair, were well in the fight of a scrappy contest until hooker Andrew Makalio was sent off in the 21st minute for a no-arms shot on Blues ...

That try belatedly sparked the Blues. Now on the front foot, Barrett cashed in. This time, Ioane could not be denied after flying onto a short ball from brother Rieko. This wasn't the most polished performance the Blues have delivered this season. Over 23,500 turned out at Eden Park on Saturday night. At the half hour mark Marty Banks extended the Highlanders' lead to 6-0 but the Blues finally found their groove with a string of quick rucks and offloads that went to hand. Far from it.