The Highlanders have won their last four Super Rugby matches against the Queensland Reds.
Both teams, however, have never enjoyed a longer winning run of four matches in the history of this Trans-Tasman fixture.
- The Highlanders defeated the Queensland Reds in their most recent Super Rugby meeting at Suncorp Stadium (18-15, 26 May 2018), snapping a six-match losing run in away games against the Reds
- The Otago franchise will be aiming for back-to-back wins versus Queensland for the first time.
- The Reds have lost their last two Super Rugby matches after losing only one of their eight games prior (W7) – the last time they lost more than two consecutive games was a four-match span from June 2019 to February 2020.
- The Highlanders lost their most recent Super Rugby match against Australian opposition (28-17 v Brumbies, 24 April 2022), snapping a five-match winning run.
- The Landers will be looking to avoid back-to-back defeats against Australian teams for the first time since July 2014.
- The Reds have received 11 yellow cards, four more than any other team in the competition; their 124 penalties conceded, is the second-most by any side (NSW Waratahs – 130).
- The Highlanders have a success rate of 91% on their lineout throws (115/127) – the best of any team in the competition; only the Fijian Drua (69%) have a lower rate than the Reds (76%).
- Queensland (2) and the Highlanders (1) are the only teams to have scored a try from a free kick in 2022.
- The Highlanders (25) and Reds (23) have made the most and third-most kicks in play per game, respectively, of any teams this season (Crusaders – 24 per game).
Players to watch
- Rhys Marshall has crossed the gainline on 10 carries per 80 minutes, the most of any player in the competition (min. 80 minutes played).
- Harry Wilson has crossed the gainline on 89 carries, 19 more than any other player in the competition, and 42 more than Fetuli Paea (47).
Match detail
We are waiting for the kick-off.
In the meantime, why not have a look at the match preview.
1.00: PEEEP! We are underway at Suncorp Stadium in Queensland, Australia.
3.00: MISS! Mitch Hunt cannot open the scoring from 41 metres out. 0-0
6.00: a couple of even scrums so far, with both teams looking for a platform to set up attacks.
8.00: Queensland have a penalty advantage for offsides by the Highlanders near the Kiwis’ line.
9.00: Tate McDermott opts for the points. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u leaves with a bleeding head. Hugh Renton is on for the No 8.
10.00: MISS! Both kickers jabbing their kicks to the right. 0-0
13.00: YELLOW CARD! Josh Dickson is off for 10 minutes for a dangerous tackle. 0-0
16.00: Nothing comes from the good field position for the hosts. Blues clear the danger.
17.00: YELLOW CARD! Marino Mikaele-Tu’u lifted Lawson Creighton above the horizontal, he had only just come back on. 0-0
17.00: TRY! Harry Wilson combined with Lawson Creighton to send Jock Campbell away down the lefthand sideline. The Highlanders ran out of numbers with two players on the bench. 5-0
19.00: MISS! Creighton pushes his kick wide. 5-0
22.00: The Highlanders win a penalty outside the Reds’ 22. Hunt’s bomb is not taken, but we go back because Lukhan Salakaia-Loto did not roll away from the ruck. Hunt calls for the tee.
23.00: MISS! Hunt shanks his goal attempt well wide. 5-0
24.00: Both kickers are having a mare from the tee, each has missed two attempts.
26.00: It’s end-to-end after McReight’s break. Petaia carried forward, but his loose pass went to Hunt, who raced away before kicking ahead. Campbell got back but Hunt tackled the fullback while on the floor.
28.00: Creighton kicks to the corner.
29.00: TRY! Queensland goes several phases from the lineout before Flook latches onto Creighton’s pin-point crossfield kick. Flook outjumped the shortish Hunt to score near the flag. 10-0
30.00: CONVERSION! Creighton slots the kick. 12-0
32.00: The Reds only managed five points while the Highlanders had 13 players, but they did score when 15v15.
33.00: TRY! Thomas Umaga-Jensen evaded four defenders to score. Seru Uru, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Ryan Smith, and Hamish Stewart’s weak attempts allowed the centre to beat Jock Campbell. 12-5
34.00: CONVERSION! Hunt slots the kick. 12-7
36.00: NO TRY! McDermott’s intercept-try is chalked off after the TMO rules Jordan Petaia knocked the bouncing ball forward before James Lentjes gathered. 12-7
38.00: Creighton is charged down, but Campbell saves the day to kickstart a counter-attack.
39.00: Landers win a late penalty in front of the posts. Hunt calls for the tee.
41.00: PENALTY! Hunt reduces the gap to two at the break. 12-10
The halftime score was Queensland Reds 12 Highlanders 10
41.00: PEEEP! We are back underway down under.
42.00: Harry Wilson leaves the field on a stretcher.
46.00: It’s all Highlanders at the moment, the Reds are a bit off coulour.
49.00: PENALTY! Hunt puts the Landers ahead. 12-13
52.00; Reds are fighting back, but cannot make any ground.
55.00: TRY! Here we go! A long sustained attack ends with Ryan Smith breaking free from a tackle to dive over and score. 17-13
56.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 19-13
60.00: Superb defending by the Reds. McReight wins the turnover on his line, and the hosts clear.
61.00: TRY! Gregory takes Folau Fakatava’s inside pass to score next to the poles.
62.00: CONVERSION! The kick is good. 19-20
65.00: Brown’s men are back on the charge, winning a kickable penalty near the 22.
66.00: TRY! Fetuli Paea goes close before Fakatava dives over. 19-25
67.00: CONVERSION! Banks adds the extras. 19-27
70.00: The Kiwis are looking for the killer blow, the Aussies look tired.
73.00: Highlanders go close again, but nothing comes from the attack after good defending by the hosts.
75.00: The Reds give away possession in a good part of the field.
77.00: The Highlanders are running down the clock expertly by taking time to feed reset scrums.
79.00: The clock is ticking down…
81.00: The hooter sounds, and the ball is booted out for a Landers’ W in the Sunshine State.
FULL TIME
To refresh this page, click HERE. Live In-Play Betting.
The final score is Reds 19 (12) Highlanders 27 (10)
Scorers
Reds
Tries – Campbell, Flook, Smith
Pen –
Con – Creighton (2)
Drop –
Cards –
Highlanders
Tries – T. Umaga-Jensen, Gregory, Fakatava
Pen – Hunt (2)
Con – Hunt, Banks (2)
Drop –
Cards – Dickson (Yellow, 13′), Mikaele-Tu’u (Yellow, 17′)
Match Officials
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 1: Reuben Keane
Assistant Ref 2: James Palmer
TMO: James Leckie
Teams
Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Jordan Petaia, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Tate McDermott (captain), 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Seru Uru, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Ryan Smith, 3 Feao Fotuaika, 2 Richie Asiata, 1 Dane Zander.
Replacements: 16 Matt Faessler, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Albert Anae, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Angus Scott-Young, 21 Spencer Jeans, 22 Filipo Daugunu, 23 Mac Grealy.
Highlanders: 15 Connor Garden-Bachop, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 Scott Gregory, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith (captain), 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 James Lentjes, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Bryn Evans, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Rhys Marshall, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Mau, 19 Max Hicks, 20 Hugh Renton, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Mosese Dawai.
