Super 15 Rugby
New Zealand
The Super 15 is the largest rugby union football club championship in the southern hemisphere, consisting of provincial teams from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
Blues
vs.
Highlanders
Match scheduled:
Last updated: 17-06-2011 from 01:35 until 03:35
15-06-2011 on 11:41
Super 15 Rugby
The last time these two teams met it was in Dunedin this year and the Blues won 10-15 but this Super Rugby match is in Auckland so the Blues have home advantage.
The Blues lost the lead in the New Zealand Super Rugby conference but could take it back if they win and the Crusaders lose this weekend. They can't control the Crusaders fate so they just have to go out and win this match. The Highlanders cannot qualify for the play offs any longer.
On paper the Blues shouldn't struggle too much as on average they score 27 points against the Highlanders who only score 19 points against the Blues on average.
In Auckland they have a better average as they score 34 points on average and the Highlander still score 19 points.
The Blues and the Highlanders have played each other 8 times in Auckland and the Highlanders have won just once and that was almost ten years ago as it was in 2002 when they won 13-20.
Overall the Blues have played the Highlanders 17 times and they have won 12 times and lost five times.
When these teams met the last time around Luke McAlister kicked five penalties and Highlanders back Robbie Robinson scored 10 points through a try, conversion and a penalty.
Like the Higlanders in the Super Rugby play off race Robinson has faded but has been named on the bench for this week's match and Luke McAlister is at 12 for the Blues.
The match itself last time was a tough armwrestle and the Blues ground out a victory based largely on defence. With a place in the play offs the Blues may be tempted to play a less risky or similar game.
In team selections the Blues have named Alby Mathewson on the bench and Rene Ranger is out for the Super Rugby season. Jared Payne is at fullback and Benson Stanley alongside McAlister in the centres.
Jimmy Cowan has earned a recall for the Highlanders and former All Black Tom Donnelly has been given a last chance to impress the All Black selectors.
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