Highlanders pile pressure on Chiefs

The Highlanders advanced their cause for a homeground advantage in Super Rugby's preliminary round of play-offs with a 44-7 rout of a hapless Blues team  in Auckland on Friday.

The seven-tries-to-one victory means the Highlanders have moved into fourth place on the standings – ahead of the Chiefs.

It also piled the pressure on the Chiefs, who now have to beat the Hurricanes on Saturday by at least 38 points if they are to claim that all important fourth spot on the table, ahead of the Highlanders – which will bring with it the advantage of playing at home next week.

It also soured Mealamu's final Super Rugby match after a 16-year career spanning a competition-record 175 matches.

The 36-year-old hooker, who has also earned 123 Test caps for the All Blacks, is set to retire after New Zealand's World Cup defence later this year.

It completes the worst-ever season for the Blues, with the three-time champions managing only three wins and becoming the whipping boys of the New Zealand conference.

"Putting those results aside, they're good men to play alongside and I wouldn't have it any other way," Mealamu said.

"We've got some good talent coming through but it's important we learn from the lessons this year and become a stronger club."

With All Blacks Ben and Aaron Smith back after being rested for last week's loss to the Hurricanes, the Highlanders showed a willingness to attack, despite wet conditions early on.

The aggression paid off after 10 minutes – when John Hardie scored from a driving maul after Lima Sopoaga had found touch with a perfectly weighted kick.

Highlander Josh Hohneck was sin-binned for a shoulder charge, but the South Islanders scarcely skipped a beat, continuing to press until Shaun Treeby scored their second try after 25 minutes.

Flank Elliot Dixon raced from the base of a scrum to make it three as the half-time siren sounded, sending the Highlanders into the break up 20-0.

Under pressure Blues coach John Kirwan said it was the worst half his team had produced all year.

Mealamu was substituted off in the 46th minute to a standing ovation.

But his Blues continued to leak points, conceding a fourth try when wing Patrick Osborne smashed through a tackler to touch down in the corner.

Tries to Dan Pryor and Joe Latta continued the rout, before Matt McGahan put the Blues on the board with 13 minutes to go.

But the Highlanders were not done, with Ben Smith crossing for their seventh when he plucked Sopoaga's cross-field chip kick from the air and grounded the ball.

Man of the match: Don't bother looking at any Blues, they looked decidedly disinterested. The two Smiths, Ben and Aaron, were good value – as always. Lima Sopoaga recovered well from a couple of early misses at goal, while Elliot Dixon, Joe Latta and Alex Ainley all did yeoman work. However, our award goes to Highlanders No.8 Dan Pryor – who continued to raise his profile with the quality of his game.

The scorers:

For the Blues:

Try: McGahan

Con: West

For the Highlanders:

Tries: Hardy, Treeby, Dixon, Osborne, Pryor, Latta, B Smith

Cons: Sopoaga 3

Pen: Sopoaga

Yellow card: Josh Hohneck (Highlanders, 21 – foul play, shoulder charge)

Teams:

Blues: 15 Lolagi Visinia, 14 Ben Lam, 13 Hamish Northcott, 12 George Moala, 11 Melani Nanai, 10 Ihaia West, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Joe Edwards, 7 Brendon O'Connor, 6 Chris Vui, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Angus Ta'avao, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Sam Prattley.

Replacements: 16 James Parsons, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Sione Mafileo, 19 Will Lloyd, 20 Jack Ram,  21 Jimmy Cowan, 22 Matt McGahan, 23 Lolagi Visinia.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Richard Buckman, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Dan Pryor, 7 John Hardie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Latta, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Jackson Hemopo, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Kurt Baker.

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Shane McDermott (New Zealand), Angus Mabey (New Zealand)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)