Barrett breaks Morne Steyn's record as Blues put heat on log leaders

FRIDAY WRAP: The Blues have kept touch with the top of the table with a 47-40 win over the Highlanders in Auckland.

In doing so, they retain the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy and go to second on the ladder, with the Hurricanes and Chiefs yet to play.

The hosts were forced to endure a nervous finish after two late tries gave the Highlanders a chance to send the game into extra-time, forcing the error.

The Highlanders started with a bang as scrumhalf Adam Lennox split the lineout for the opener, capitalising on some loose ball to cross after three minutes.

This was almost instantly answered by the hosts, with their forward pack going to work. Hoskins Sotutu nabbed his first of the year from close, followed over by Anton Segner, who came up with several big turnovers.

Sam Darry extended the lead to 19-7 after 26 minutes, with the hosts holding out Jamie Joseph’s team and marching back down the field.

Darry’s try gave Beauden Barrett the chance to go second for points in Super Rugby’s history, eclipsing South African sharp-shooter Morne Steyn (1,551).

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The big moment in the opening 40 minutes came eight minutes from half-time as Caleb Tangitau was knocked unconscious, setting up Taniela Tele’a’s try.

The flashy winger sprinted through the line and threw a beauty of a long ball to his centre, however, was collected in the head by Zarn Sullivan as his body height dipped in the tackle.

Sullivan went for ten and the Blues held onto their 19-14 lead into half-time, picking up where they left off when the fullback returned to the park.

Bradley Slater saluted at the back of the maul four minutes into the second half, with Segner bursting through a hole for his second.

It gave the Blues a 33-14 lead after 50 minutes, with the Highlanders mounting a comeback through their dominant scrum. Multiple penalties in a row had the hosts on the back foot, with Lennox stepping and sliding his way over for his second.

As they built confidence, Beauden Barrett sought to quash it, setting up Cole Forbes to restore their advantage. But a wild pass from the All Blacks superstar gave the visitors a chance to launch a late comeback, with debutant Xavier Tito-Harris finishing off the 80 metre move.

Ben Ake looked to have sealed the win for the hosts before AJ Lam’s yellow card opened the space for a large surge.

Tele’a and hooker Soane Vikena scored back-to-back tries to give them the chance to send the game into Super Point.

Back-to-back penalties had them inside the Blues 22, only for a costly knock-on to end their chances and give the hosts the win.

The last minute tries denied the Blues a chance to go equal on points with the Hurricanes, who play the second-placed Chiefs on Saturday.

Coach Vern Cotter will turn his attention to his future side, the Queensland Reds, as part of Super Round, while the Highlanders face a must-win game against Moana Pasifika.

The NSW Waratahs have ground out an essential bonus-point victory and denied Moana Pasifika an emotional triumph.

The hosts prevailed 29-14 on Friday in Sydney, but only after trailing 14-12 at halftime and being forced off with just 11 minutes remaining for 40 minutes due to nearby lightning strikes.

The weather forced the Duke and Duchess of Sussex Harry and Meghan, in the company of rugby royalty including John Eales, out of their seats in the second half.

Pasifika, whose ownership on Wednesday confirmed it would be unviable to continue funding the outfit beyond this year, started well and had their chances to build a lead early in the second half.

But twice they knocked on close to the line and then piggy-backed the hosts towards their own line with scrum ill-discipline and line-out errors.

Eventually, after some sloppy unforced errors of their own, the Waratahs pounced.

Isaac Kailea crossed after repeated, pounding efforts from close range, then Sid Harvey had his second to make it 22-14.

he fullback didn’t get a chance to convert his own try, players forced off due to the electrical storm and forced into the changerooms.

He hooked it past the upright on resumption but made a huge play to knock a ball loose just as Pasifika’s Solomon Alaimalo had broken clear.

Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa’s own hand then denied him a try near the posts, the flanker held up in goal with five minutes to play.

The Waratahs controlled possession for the final minutes and Folau Fainga’a’s rolling-maul try secured the extra point on the buzzer.

Earlier, Pasifika halfback Melani Matavao caused all sorts of problems in the first half with two tries from quick taps around the ruck.

The crafty No.9 played it perfectly, knocking on deliberately after earning the penalty before running through an offside Waratahs defence.

Tristan Reilly and Harvey, athletically diving into the corner, both scored to keep the hosts close at the break.

Victory broke a three-game losing streak to Pasifika and improved the Waratahs to 4-4 and in sight of the top six.

Moana (1-8) had lost their past seven games, conceding an average of 48.3 points in those losses, but arrived in Sydney with plenty to prove.

Blues 47-40 Highlanders

The scorers:

For Blues:
Tries: Segner 2, Slater, Darry, Sotutu, Forbes, Ake
Cons: Barrett 6

For Highlanders:
Tries: Lennox 2, Tele’a 2, Tito-Harris, Vikena
Cons: Millar 5

Teams:

Blues: 15 Zarn Sullivan, 14 Cole Forbes, 13 AJ Lam, 12 Xavi Taele, 11 Codemeru Vai, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Anton Segner, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Bradley Slater, 1 Mason Tupaea.
Replacements: 16 Kurt Eklind, 17 Ben Ake, 18 Sam Matenga, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Torian Barnes, 21 Malachi Wrampling, 22 Taufa Funaki, 23 Pita Akhi

Highlanders: 15 Taine Robinson, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Taniela Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Adam Lennox, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Te Kamaka Howden, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Lucas Casey, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Xavier Tito-Harris, 23 Finn Hurley

Referee: Jordan Way
Assistant Referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: James Leckie

Waratahs 29-14 Moana Pasifika

The scorers:

For Waratahs:
Tries: Reilly, Harvey 2, Kailea, Fainga’a
Cons: Harvey 2

For Moana Pasifika
Tries: Matavao 2
Cons: Pellegrini 2

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 Sid Harvey, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Lawson Creighton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Jack Debreczenie, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Daniel Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Clem Halaholo, 21 Jamie Adamson, 22 Teddy Wilson, 23 Triston Reilly

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 13 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 Tevita Latu, 11 Glen Vaihu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Melani Matavao, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Veikoso Poloniati, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millenium Sanerivi, 1 Abraham Pole
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 18 Paula Latu, 19 Jimmy Tupou, 20 Ola Tauelangi, 21 Jonathan Taumateine, 22 Faletoi Peni, 23 Tyler Pulini

Referee: Angus Mabey
Assistant Referees: Mike Winter, Ben Woolerton
TMO: Aaron Paterson