RECAP: Highlanders v Reds

READERS’ FORUM: Welcome to our live coverage of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman Round One encounter between the Highlanders and Reds in Dunedin.

The Highlanders have won their last three consecutive Super Rugby games against the Queensland Reds, as many as they had won in their 10 meetings prior.

However, they have never won more than three consecutive Super Rugby games against them.

Seven of the Highlanders’ last eight Super Rugby games against Australian opposition have been decided by a margin of fewer than 10 points on the day; the Highlanders have picked up five wins in that term.

The Queensland Reds have won only one of their last 17 Super Rugby games against New Zealand opposition – a 29-28 win over the Blues in Round 17, 2019.

* To read our pre-match predictions, CLICK HERE!

* Our live blog will appear below, it might take a little while to load, please be patient. We apologise for the inconvenience!

[livecentre-blog id=”14172″]

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Palelei Tomkinson, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Scott Gregory, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith (co-captain), 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Hugh Renton, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (co-captain), 1 Ayden Johnstone.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Ethan De Groot, 18 Josh Hohneck, 19 Bryn Evans, 20 James Lentjes, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Tim O’Malley, 23 Ngatugnane Punivai.

Queensland Reds: 15 Bryce Hegarty, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Jock Campbell, 10 James O’Connor 9 Kalani Thomas, 8 Seru Uru, 7 Liam Wright, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Angus Blyth, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Dane Zander.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Harry Hoopert, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Fraser McReight, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Isaac Henry, 23 Suliasi Vunivalu.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant referees: James Doleman & Angus Maybe
TMO: Mike Fraser