The Highlanders host the Brumbies in this clash and they will be hoping for a third successive victory over the Canberra based Super Rugby franchise.
The Highlanders have played the Brumbies 22 times in Super Rugby and they have won 10 matches and lost 12. This gives them a record of winning 46% of their matches against the Brumbies.
- The Highlanders have won their last three games on the bounce against the Brumbies, never before have they won more in succession against the team from the Australian capital.
- The Brumbies have won on three of their last five excursions away from home to face the Highlanders, though their most recent such victory came in Round 9, 2013.
- The Highlanders have won their last nine games on the bounce at home, the last and only time they won more was a 13-game glut from 2000 to 2002.
- The Highlanders have won 12 of their last 13 games against Australian opposition, including each of their last seven.
- The Brumbies have won only one of their last five games away from home, with that win coming against the Sunwolves by just seven points.
- The Brumbies have lost their last 11 games against teams from New Zealand, their longest ever drought in such fixtures.
- The Brumbies have a goalkicking accuracy of just 61% this campaign, lower than any other team in the competition.
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick off.
In the meantime why not have a look at the match preview.
The match is underway. The ball goes almost straight into touch.
3.00: The Brumbies run the ball and test the Highlanders but there is a knock on.
4.00: The Highlanders win their scrum and run. The get into the Brumbies half and then chip and chase. The Brumbies get back and kick the ball into touch to relieve the pressure.
6.00: The Highlanders attack the Brumbies in their 22. They go through 10 phases and Lima Sopoaga pounces from a couple of metres out and scores. TRY!
8.00: Sopoaga takes the conversion kick but misses.
11.00: The Brumbies run the ball but the Highlanders are up to the task and tackle them into touch.
12.00: Possession : Highlanders 55% Brumbies 45% – Rory Arnold has taken a couple of blows and is struggling. The medics come in to assist him.
13.00 The Brumbies turn the ball over. They run the ball and then kick it. The Highlanders boot it back to the Brumbies who run at the Highlanders and win a penalty from the breakdown.
15.00: Wharenui Hawera will have a shot. He nails it.
19.00: The Highlanders attack the Brumbies in their 22. They go through 9 phases testing the Brumbies defence but they lose the ball forward in the tackle.
21.00: Scrum penalty to the Brumbies – front row angling in. The Brumbies clear the ball into touch.
25.00: The Highlanders get the ball from a line out. Sopoaga sends the ball outwide to Ben Smith who runs and then cuts back in wrongfooting two Brumbies players and scores next to the posts. TRY!
26.00: Sopoaga adds the conversion.
27.00: Penalty to the Brumbies. They clear the ball into touch.
Penalties conceded : Highlanders 4 Brumbies 0S
The Brumbies win the line out and attack the Highlanders on their 22. They get to about 10m out but the final pass from James Dargaville goes to ground.
30.00: The Brumbies keep the pressure on and go over the line. The TMO is called upon to check if a try has been scored or if there was a knock on. No try as there was accidental offside and a knock on. Penalty to the Brumbies.
32.00: The Brumbies choose a 5m scrum. They win the scrum and go wide but they are called back when the attack comes to nothing. The penalty is for front row angling in. 5m scrum again.
33.00: The Brumbies secure the ball from the scrum and Isi Naisarani powers over after breaking from the back of the scrum and scores. TRY!
36.00: Hawera slots the conversion and the Brumbies trail by two.
37.00: The Highlanders have a line out on the Brumbies 5m line. The Highlanders win the line out, use the maul and then run it. As they get in front of the posts there is a knock as the ball is lost forward.
39.00: The Brumbies again win a penalty from the scrum for the front row angling in. The Brumbies clear the ball into touch.
40.00: The siren sounds after the line out. The ball is scrappy so the Brumbies kick it out to end the half.
The half time score was Highlanders 12 Brumbies 10
The Highlanders kick off and the second half is underway.
43.00: The Highlanders get a scrum. They clear the ball quickly but the ball goes to ground as they move it down the line. The ball goes into touch.
45.00: Penalty to the Brumbies. They take the line out but overshoot.
46.00: The Highlanders run from deep and look dangerous. The Brumbies slow the attack and then concede a penalty at the breakdown. The Highlanders will have a shot at goal.
47.00: Sopoaga slots the penalty and extends the lead a little.
50.00: The Brumbies attack on the wing but the Highlanders defend,. The Brumbies regroup and the chip over the top. The Highlanders kick deep. The ball goes out and the Brumbies play it quickly. There is a tip tackle by Lima Sopoaga on Tom Banks. Sopoaga is shown a yellow card. The Brumbies kick for touch with the penalty.
56.00: Smith comes on as replacement for Dargaville.
59.00: The Brumbies have the ball inside the Highlanders 22. As they attack Waisake Naholo intercepts and races away to the line and scores. TRY! Killer for the Brumbies who had made half the field.
60.00: Ben Smith adds the conversion.
66.00: The Highlanders break down the wing and get the ball to Ben Smith who races away and scores. TRY!
68.00: Sopoaga adds the conversion. The Highlanders are now in contention for a bonus point win.
69.00; The Highlanders are on fire. They chip the ball ahead and Matt Faddes gets back and secures the ball. The Highlanders recycle the ball and Ash Dixon sends a ball out wide where there is a four man overlap. Shannon Frizzel gets the ball and scores. TRY!
70.00: Sopoaga nails the conversion.
73.00: The Brumbies wear down the Highlanders after Chance Peni made a break and got them into the home side’s 22. On the 8th phase Joe Powell slips over and scores. TRY!
74.00: Hawera adds the conversion.
76.00: The Highlanders snipe again Kayne Hammington off the back of the scrum – but this time the Brumbies stop the attack and Pocock wins the penalty from the breakdown. The Brumbies clear the ball.
78.00: The Highlanders win a scrum and move the ball across the field. It’s slow so the Brumbies are able to slow the attack. The Highlanders keep the ball alive and change sides where the ball is lost and goes into touch.
80.00: The siren sounds. The Brumbies have the ball inside their 22. The Highlanders turn the ball over but then Pocock steals it back.
81.00: The Brumbies go through 5 phases and pass the ball down the line but its messy. The ball changes hands again and the Highlanders attack, several players have a hand in the final act which ends in a try being scored by Fletcher Smith.
83.00: Sopoaga takes the conversion from in front and nails it.
The Highlanders have won.
To refresh this page click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.
The full time score is Highlanders 43 (12) Brumbies 17 (10)
Scorers
Highlanders
Tries – L.Sopoaga, B.Smith 2, W.Naholo, S.Frizzel, F.Smith
Pen – L.Sopoaga
Con – L.Sopoaga 4, B.Smith
Drop –
Cards – L.Sopoaga (51st min yellow)
Brumbies
Tries – I.Naisarani, J.Powell
Pen – W.Hawera
Con – W.Hawera 2
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant Ref 1:Ben O’Keeffe
Assistant Ref 2: James Doleman
TMO : Glenn Newman
Teams
Highlanders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown,2. Liam Coltman,3. Siate Tokolahi,4. Jackson Hemopo,5. Tom Franklin,6. Shannon Frizell,7. Dillon Hunt,8. Luke Whitelock,9. Aaron Smith,10. Lima Sopoaga,11. Tevita Li,12. Teihorangi Walden,13. Rob Thompson,14. Waisake Naholo,15. Ben Smith (cc)
Replacements : 16. Ash Dixon (cc),17. Aki Seiuli,18. Kalolo Tuiloma,19. Alex Ainley,20. Elliot Dixon,21. Kayne Hammington,22. Fletcher Smith,23. Matt Faddes
Brumbies
15 Tom Banks, 14 James Dargaville, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Christian Lealiifano (co-captain), 11 Chance Peni, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Matt Lucas, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 David Pocock, 6 Tom Cusack, 5 Blake Enever, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Nic Mayhew, 18 Leslie Leuluaialii-Makin, 19 Sam Carter (co-captain), 20 Michael Oakman-Hunt, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Kyle Godwin, 23 Andrew Smith
