Highlanders

Moana Pasifika were a shadow of the team that lost 59-0 to the Hurricanes last week, but it was the final quarter where the Highlander ran rampant. Folau ...

Lowe was sent to the bin for not releasing, a huge call in the context of the tight game. The Highlanders then ran away in the final quarter to secure the win for Smith’s 350th first-class game. The rest of the half resembled something of a ping-pong match. Gilbert converted his own to give the Highlanders its first lead of the game, 12-7. Mitch Hunt, who took the ball to the line beautifully, drew in a couple of defenders and popped it out to Sam Gilbert who charged through to score. But they were ill-disciplined early, coughing up ball in the first five minutes through a flurry of errors.

A horror start to their 2023 campaign seems a long way in the Highlanders' rear-view mirror. After dropping their first three matches of the season, the ...

That saw the Highlanders take a slim 19-17 lead at the halftime break, with tries through Parkinson, Sam Gilbert and Hugh Renton. They scored some good tries through Levi Aumua and Solomone Funaki in the first half, too, showing patience and strength to crash over. On the other side, Moana Pasifika showed flair when in possession, with several of their backs enjoying themselves in space and proving tough for defenders to bring down.

The visitors didn't concede a point in the second half at Mt Smart Stadium.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand (AP) — The Dunedin, New Zealand-based Highlanders dominated the second half after a tight and high-scoring first half to beat Moana ...

The Highlanders had a strong second half with good phase play and one-off running among the forwards. The Highlanders hit back quickly with a try to Pari Pari Parkinson from a lineout. Moana Pasifika opened the scoring with a try in the fifth minute to Solomone Funaki.

All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot powers Highlanders to 45-17 win against Moana Pasifika.

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Analysis: The Highlanders got a win and a bonus point from their visit to Mt Smart Stadium, but they can't always rely on on a dominant scrum.

What they lacked in the scrums, they made up for with their lineouts, but it wasn’t enough. Just need to tidy up the scrums and play for 80 minutes though. At the start Aaron Mauger’s team played with confidence and patience. They went well and so too did the midfield backs Danny Toala and Levi Aumua. It was the Highlanders’ third win in a row, which is impressive. But at the beginning, it looked like it was Moana Pasifika, rather than the Highlanders who were on a winning streak.

Highlanders extend Moana Pasifika's winless streak in Super Rugby Pacific to six games with victory at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

After losing their first three games of the season the Highlanders have bounced back to win three in a row. Moana Pasifika scored the first try of the game and were only two points behind the Highlanders at halftime but would be kept scoreless for the second half as the visitors were relentless in the last 20 minutes of the game. The Highlanders extended Moana Pasifika's winless streak in Super Rugby Pacific to six games with a 45-17 victory at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

The Highlanders extended Moana Pasifika's winless streak to six games with a 45-17 victory at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland. The southerners scored seven tries ...

Leicester Fainga'anuku and Dom Gardner scored first half tries, while Willie Heinze touched down in the second half.... The Crusaders lost All Blacks prop George Bower to a leg injury late in the game. Meanwhile the Crusaders scored a hardfought 25-12 victory over the Reds in Brisbane.

Moana Pasifika were a shadow of the team that lost 59-0 to the Hurricanes last week, but it was the final quarter where the Highlander ran rampant. Folau ...

Lowe was sent to the bin for not releasing, a huge call in the context of the tight game. The Highlanders then ran away in the final quarter to secure the win for Smith’s 350th first-class game. The rest of the half resembled something of a ping-pong match. Gilbert converted his own to give the Highlanders its first lead of the game, 12-7. Mitch Hunt, who took the ball to the line beautifully, drew in a couple of defenders and popped it out to Sam Gilbert who charged through to score. But they were ill-disciplined early, coughing up ball in the first five minutes through a flurry of errors.