Earlier in the season this match was looking to be a great top of the table encounter, but with the Highlanders having such a terrible couple of weeks, they have been relegated to a mid table finish and this match will be their last. The Blues on the other hand have it all to play for as they will try get back up to top spot on the New Zealand conference before the Crusaders play tomorrow.
Should the Blues win this game and the Crusaders somehow manage to lose to the Hurricanes, the Blues will be home and dry with a home play-off. After the recent form shown by the Highlanders, I will not get my hopes high that they will cause any sort of upset for the Blues’ plans here.
Rene Ranger has been ruled out of the remainder of the Super Rugby season and has been replaced in the team by Lachie Munro, with Jared Payne still wearing the fullback jersey. The match is scheduled to kick off at 09h40.
Blues :1. Charlie Faumuina , 2. Keven Mealamu (c) , 3. John Afoa , 4. Anthony Boric , 5 Ali Williams , 6 Jerome Kaino , 7 Luke Braid , 8 Peter Saili , 9 Chris Smylie , 10 Stephen Brett , 11 Lachie Munro , 12 Luke McAlister , 13 Benson Stanley , 14 Joe Rokocoko , 15 Jared Payne ,
Replacements 16 , Tom McCartney , 17 , Tevita Mailau , 18 , Chris Lowrey , 19 , Sean Polwart , 20 , Alby Mathewson , 21 , Winston Stanley , 22 , Sherwin Stowers
Highlanders: Jamie Mackintosh (C), Jason Rutledge, Chris King, Jarrad Hoeata, Tom Donnelly, Adam Thomson, Alando Soakai, Nasi Manu, Jimmy Cowan, Tony Brown, Siale Piutau, Shaun Treeby , Kendrick Lynn, Matt Saunders, Ben Smith.
Reserves: Mo Schwalger, Bronson Murray, Josh Bekhuis, Nick Croswell, Aaron Smith, Robbie Robinson, Telusa Veainu
Match Officials
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro, Nick Briant
Television match official: Glen Jackson
Blues by 5
Go you dirty Highlanders!
I thought this game started at 07:40 RSA time?
am I wrong.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 1) : Same here.
@McLovin (Comment 3) : No Need to ask because I know you are refering to both his statements
Blues by 13
I now know I have the time wrong. Let’s hope I do better with the score.
Hi guys, thought I would drop in some stats while coding the game that will be the same as I tweet. I want to see if I can code, tweet and drop it into here at the same time. Testing for the semis, tri nations and that other tournament in Sept/October in NZ.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 6) : That will be pretty cool.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 4) : Indeed.
I think Ranger being ruled out was all but the final nail in my FL coffin. I am not fielding a full Starting XV because of injuries to my outside backs.
Dagg
Ranger
O’Connor
Maitland
Ioane
All big scorers all out injured.
Quick question,
Is there some place that will be hosting Currie Cup FL?
Bit off-topic
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : no its scheduled for 9:35 sa time
@Ossa (Comment 10) : for sure…
We’ll launch it on http://www.justrugby.net as soon as Super Rugby is over.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 6) : nice
We like stretch goals!
Goal kickers #Blues McAlister 69% (46 from 67) #Highlanders: Brown 65% (13 from 20) #rugby #super15 #superrugby
#Blues on average (#super15 rank 1=most/highest) per game: 8.9 pens (13); 5.7 pens at ruck (8); 14 missed tackles (5)
#Highlanders on average (#super15 rank 1=most/highest) per game: 10.1 pens (5); 6.8 pens at ruck (2); 14.1 missed tackles (4)
If Munro kicks like SkySport just suggested he is 7 from 9 or 79%. #Blues #Highlanders #rugby #super15 #superrugby
Stand by for ref stats…
Ref stats: B Lawrence forced to award, per game average 19.3 pens (10.8 at ruck) 3.9 scrum resets & 3.5 scrum infringes #Blues #Highlanders
Ref stats: B Lawrence 10 (1=most/highest) from 17 refs to award pens, 14th in scrum resets, 3rd for lineout pen #Blues #Highlanders
@KSA Shark © (Comment 9) : with such a long season that 6 changes is not worth much
Absolutely bucketing down.
Blues 0 – 0 Highlanders
5min
39% probability of this first place kick being successful according to the computer #Blues #Highlanders #rugby #super15 #superrugby
Try Highlanders.
Blues 0 – 5 Highlanders
7min
@franshark (Comment 17) : Did you only get 6? must be your first season. They award more trades for every consecutive season you play I am on 18 trades this season. I just used them up to early.
Highlanders playing against a strong wind.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 20) : That stat was on the money
10 min: Contestable possession #Blues =46% #Highlanders territory =64% #rugby #super15 #superrugby
Blues miss a kickable penalty.
15min? Into the game and Highlanders still leading. EARLY days yet but this could be a handy result.
Blues 3 – 5 Highlanders
18min
Brown lands a dropgoal.
Blues 3 – 8 Highlanders
20min
GO LANDERS.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : How?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : handy not handy – just
5m scrum Blues.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 33) : Winner of Sharks Bulls could overtake them on the log.
And get a home play-off.
Brett try.
Blues 10 – 8 Highlanders
29min
@McLovin (Comment 36) : True… setting up a potential home playoff, if they manage to stay ahead of the Tahs
McAlistar try.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 33) : If I have it correct then a Blues loss will see whoever wins from the Sharks or Bulls end 4th on the log.
Blues 17 – 8 Highlanders
33min
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 39) : So then why’d you ask the question?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 39) : Tahs are going to lose.
@McLovin (Comment 44) : pass it on
@McLovin (Comment 42) :
@KSA Shark © (Comment 43) : I hadnt thought of it until it was pointed out
Blues 17 – 11 Highlanders
38min
@McLovin (Comment 44) : Hope not
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 49) : Why not?
@robdylan (Comment 12) : I’m a bit of a lazy FL player. I like to look at pictures.
Thats why I didn’t really go for justrugby’s FL.
Don’t really like that place anymore 
After the catastrophy that is my LastManStanding
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : what u kidding…
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : yes its my first
HALF TIME
Blues 17 – 11 Dirty Highlanders
@McLovin (Comment 50) : Because a Tahs loss would allow the sharks to slip backwards into the playoffs playing their recent uninspiring 15 mins of high tempo rugby. A Tahs win will force the Sharks to step up, win and build momentum and confidence or go home and work on getting it right for next year.
I have the blues by 9
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 49) : ja why not
Concerning #Blues 1/2time stats: 9 lost possessions/turnovers (incl hand 4 errs) 5 miss tackles 5 pen conceded #rugby #super15 #superrugby
Concerning #Highlanders 1/2time stats: 9 lost possessions/turnovers (incl 3 hand errs) 15 missed tackles, 43% poss rugby #super15 #superrugby
@McLovin (Comment 54) : Go Landers
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 55) : But the Tahs loss may do marvels for my nerves , you surely don’t want all our lives shortened due to high stress
@Ossa (Comment 51) :
1st half stats are up, ruckingoodstats.com. Stick around for the 1/2time stats show for #Blues v #Highlanders #rugby #super15 #superrugby
@KSA Shark © (Comment 23) : and last time u asked(6weeks ago) I was in 43 possition, now in 28th
@rekinek (Comment 59) : Go Landers, Brumbies, Chiefs and Stormers for me this weekend.
@franshark (Comment 57) : Read comment 55
@rekinek (Comment 59) : Dude, its just prolonging the agony. If they cant win at Loftus thay aint gonna win 3 more games on the trot away from home.
1st 5/8 options kick/run/pass from set piece/recycled ball: Brett 29%/7%/64% Brown 38%/25%/38% #Blues #Highlanders #rugby #super15 #superrugby
Tactical kicks from the hand: #Blues = 13 #Highlanders = 15 #rugby #super15 #superrugby
If #Highlanders lineout calls predictable, next attacking lineout throw goes front/middle/back. #Blues #rugby #super15 #superrugby
Come on you Dirty Landers. Finish like u started the tournament
2nd half under way.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 67) : Is a Dirty lander something like a Dirty Sanchez
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 69) : Hehehe
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 66) : What does that mean?
@McLovin (Comment 63) : same here – maybe with exception of Stormers – the pointless loss would just shake a bit.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 64) : I’ll never say never, will want to dragg it as long as possible..
Payne try.
Highlanders make an almighty cock-up from a high kick by the Blues.
Blues 24 – 11 Highlanders
45min
@franshark (Comment 73) : Agreed, but what better way of signalling their intent than beating the defending champs away from home. Will set the tone for the rest of the tournament. Im not being negative, but maybe the sharks will fire with their back to the wall. A Tahs loss wont force that..
Blues going for 3 points.
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 60) : Think I made about 3 picks… in total. pfffft
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 64) : are you not believing in miracles
Sharks are not bad travelling site.
Blues 27 – 11 Highlanders
50min
@rekinek (Comment 79) : Might be, but they only win about 33% of away games in NZ/Aus.
@McLovin (Comment 81) : and I guess this percentage is much lower when it comes to play – offs.
@rekinek (Comment 79) : One miracle at a time. You cant expect to lose to the Bulls this week and waltz through the opposition 1000s of kms away. Sharks need momentum and confidence.
@rekinek (Comment 82) : Think it the same. 3 played with one win.
@McLovin (Comment 80) : c’mon landers pull yourselves together
@McLovin (Comment 84) : Make that 1 out of 4.
Winning an away semi seems to be damn near impossible.
Only happened 4 times in the history of super rugby.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 6) : Coding the game? You in performance analysis?
Blues penalty.
Blues 30 – 11 Highlanders
62min
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 83) : i like to dream BIG
@McLovin (Comment 87) : which ones ?
@franshark (Comment 53) : Oh well that explains it then. You’ll get 4 extra trades to take you up to 10 in the CC competition.
@rekinek (Comment 91) : Then dream of a sharks win this weekend, not a Tahs loss.
@rekinek (Comment 92) :
1996 Natal beat Reds
1999 Highlanders beat Stormers
1999 Crusaders beat Reds
2002 Brumbies beat Waratahs
So almost 10 years since an away side has won a semi.
@McLovin (Comment 74) : Staring XV
Blues 30 – 16 Highlanders
66min
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 94) : Or both.
Blues 33 – 16 Highlanders
67min
@McLovin (Comment 95) : so we did it (once ) !
Brumbies beat the Tahs -hmm…
@McLovin (Comment 97) : Damn if this score stays unchanged I am spot on!
@McLovin (Comment 95) : and it has NEVER happened in NZ.
@McLovin (Comment 99) : Cancell that….
Only 4 finals have been won away from home.
Only once by a foreign away side.
So the moral of the story is: Play your knock-out games at home.
@McLovin (Comment 104) : which once ? except we know which one..?
Looks like that’s 4th spot wrapped up by the Blues.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 102) : its gonna happen this year
@rekinek (Comment 106) :
Crusaders beat Brumbies in 2000.
Crusaders won 3 consecutive away finals.
Also beat Blues in 1998 and Highlanders in 1999.
I won’t mention the 4th one.
@Ice (Comment 101) : highlanders to score a try
@McLovin (Comment 104) : If the Sharks beat the Bulls and travel away to Auckland, the Tahs lose to the Brumbies, and the Bulls travel to the Crusaders, the Sharks beat the Blues and face the Stormers in the semis, the Bulls beat the Crusaders and face the Reds, the Sharks beat the Stormers and the Bulls beat the Reds, the final will be in Kings Park and a rematch of the game this weekend. Sharks will be favoured to win as you have pointed out the home team normally wins. This scenario would make Rekinek and Franshark happy and keep alive the miracle!! Oh wait, except one of the precious few times a visiting side has won the final……
Blues going for the bonuspoint try with 3min to go.
@franshark (Comment 110) : 3?
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 111) : I have a similar dream except in ends with a Stormers win at Newlands.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 111) : yeah baby
, hey don’t even mention that 
FINAL SCORE
Blues 33 – 16 Highlanders
So it’s Sharks & Bulls v Crusaders & Blues in the quarters then.
@McLovin (Comment 114) : Dude, I have lots of dreams, and most of them dont actually involve rugby at all… most involve Angelina Jolie, Princess Jasmin, a tub of chocolate mousse and an egg beater, but Im not holding my breath for them to come true.
@McLovin (Comment 104) :
@McLovin (Comment 109) :
Something doesn’t tie up with those two comments.
#Blues v #Highlanders stats are loaded & waiting on ruckingoodstats.com, so you can dissect what went on #rugby #super15 #superrugby
@KSA Shark © (Comment 119) : Ignore that. I misread the “foreign” bit. Didn’t reat it at all actually
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 111) : You’re complicating matters.
Let’s assume the Saders win also. They and the Blues will go above the Stormers. If the Tahs lose tomorrow and don’t get a BP, then Bulls and Sharks go through. If the Stormers lose to the Cheetahs, then it looks like this.
1. Reds/Crusaders
2. Crusaders/Reds
3. Blues
4. Stormers
5. Bulls/Sharks
6. Sharks/Bulls
In which case, if you’re a Bull or Shark, you want to finish 5th. Then you go to CT for playoffs instead of Auckland.
And that was a lot harder than i thought to tweet, code and load onto here. Must work faster
@KSA Shark © (Comment 121) : who’s doing the log?
@klempie (Comment 88) : Not based on my efforts in this game. Thought it would be easy, but wasn’t.
Any thoughts and ideas on whether it was useful are welcome
@klempie (Comment 122) : Yes well fine, but you get the point. At the risk of sounding like a broken friggen record, if you’re a Sharks supporter, your hoping for a Sharks win this weekend, not a Tahs loss!!!!!!
@klempie (Comment 122) : can’t happen, blues can’t be 3rd if saders is one or 2
@McLovin (Comment 71) : Means I forgot to delete which option it was, which was the front… Sorry
@KSA Shark © (Comment 119) : What’s wrong?
4 Finals won away from home, Crusaders x 3 and Bulls once.
Crusaders won 1 in Aus & 2 in NZ.
@RuckinGoodStats (Comment 128) : No worries.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 121) : ok – I’m doing the log
@KSA Shark © (Comment 121) : Someone get the man a pair of slippers and a pipe.
@franshark (Comment 127) : Ah crap. You’re right. But then that’s fine anyway. If Saders jump over the Stormers, the Stormers finish 3rd, in which case, if you’re a Bulls or Sharks fan, you want to finish 6th. Same diff.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 118) : I love food & beautiful women, but don’t like to mix the two. Not even in my dreams.
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 118) : Princess Jasmin. ROFL!!!!
@Pablo Dinero (Comment 126) : I stand corrected. Read comment 135.
@klempie (Comment 133) : You’re complicated matters.
Stormers to win the final at Newlands.
So if you’re a Bulls or Sharks fan you really want to be a Stormers fan.
@McLovin (Comment 137) :
@klempie (Comment 136) : No worries, my comment regarding scenarios was not exactly well researched… more to make a point. @McLovin (Comment 134) : You are missing out my friend. Although there are some foods you probably shouldnt throw in the mix. A Johnny’s Roti is hardly the thing bedroom fantasies are made of.
@robdylan (Comment 124) : not me. At work.
@McLovin (Comment 137) : ha ha ha ….. He he he