Gave an assured performance at the lineout and threw the ball well for his targets. He was rewarded nicely as he rumbled over for a try from the back of a lineout drive.
3. Marcel Renata – 4
Seemed to be the only Blues forward who didn’t find plenty of work with ball in hand, and the Blues scrum came off second best.
4. Patrick Tuipulotu – 7
In his first contest of the year, the Blues captain jumped right into the deep end with some strong carries and was put to work at the lineout. He exited after a solid 45-minute shift.
5. Sam Darry – 7
Put his hand up for plenty of carries, was great at the lineout, crashed over for a try and defended well. Carried well and scored a try from close range in a tireless 80-minute stint.
6. Anton Segner – 9
Packed plenty into a 63-minute stint, highlighted by an individual try from 22m out. It was his second of the night as he tested the defence with ball in hand. Segner was a solid lineout target, and he seemed to pop up everywhere, nabbing a couple of turnovers for good measure.
Anton Segner scored two tries against the Highlanders. Photo / Photosport
7. Dalton Papali’i – 8
Returning from injury, Papali’i showed no signs of rust as he carried with intent – slicing through the Highlanders’ line like a hot knife through butter at one point. He also got into his work defensively in a strong outing.
8. Hoskins Sotutu – 8
In his first appearance since round five, he buckled the Highlanders’ defensive line with his early carries and flashed his offloading skills. He crashed his way over from a close-range pick-and-go and showed signs of the player who took the competition by storm in 2024.
9. Finlay Christie – 7
In his 100th Super Rugby outing, the Blues halfback provided good, quick ball to keep his side moving fluidly and assist on a couple of tries.
10. Beauden Barrett – 5
Just as I had written that it was a bit of a nothing game for the veteran, he went and danced around a defender to set up a try. A quiet outing, nonetheless, in a game dominated by the Blues’ forwards. He had some good, and some not-so-good touches.
11. Codemeru Vai – 4
Not the best outing for the talented young winger. He had limited opportunities with ball in hand, though one showed a glimpse of the threat he presents through his speed. He also had a couple of handling errors when the ball did fall his way.
12. Xavi Taele – 4
Conceded an early penalty for taking Highlanders fullback Taine Robinson out in the air and had a mixed night on defence. Put his hand up for a few carries, but was largely contained.
13. A.J. Lam – 3
Struggled to find a way to contribute, but put his side under pressure when he knocked on deep in his own territory, then again late in the contest when he was yellow-carded for a cynical ruck infringement.
14. Cole Forbes – 5
Tried hard with his few opportunities. Showed composure to finish a try in the corner after being set up by Barrett.
15. Zarn Sullivan – 4
Sullivan did nothing by half measures in the contest. When he injected himself into the line he made an impact and he was a reliable kicking option. He also sent Highlanders wing Caleb Tangitau to the HIA room with a high shot and was subsequently sin-binned.
Bench
16. Kurt Eklund – 4
Didn’t put a foot wrong and continued the Blues’ successful night at the lineout.
17. Ben Ake – 6
It’s not often you’ll see a bench prop score a try on debut, but Ake took his moment and showed strength from close range to get on the scoreboard in the second half. He gave a good account of himself in a 25-minute stint.
18. Sam Matenga – 3
Made a handful of tackles but also conceded a couple of penalties.
19. Josh Beehre – 5
Replaced Tuipulotu with about 30 minutes to go and performed admirably.
20. Torian Barnes – 4
Called upon for the final 17 minutes, Barnes’ impact was minimal.
21. Malachi Wrampling – 4
Played the final 15 minutes and, like a lot of the Blues’ bench, this wasn’t the best performance you’re going to see from the young loose forward.
22. Taufa Funaki – 5
Flashed his running game and kept the ball moving quickly from the ruck.
23. Pita Ahki – 2
Only got a few minutes late in the contest.
Highlanders
1. Ethan de Groot – 5
Had a good battle up front against the Blues scrum but gave better than he got. Outside of the set piece, there were some moments he’d probably want back.
2. Jack Taylor – 4
Made a heap of tackles but had some struggles at the lineout, losing two throws.
3. Angus Ta’avao – 5
Was strong at scrum time and worked hard defensively but made a couple of crucial errors earlier in the second half – an offside penalty on his try-line and a missed tackle on Segner – which led to Blues tries before being replaced in the 49th minute.
4. Te Kamaka Howden – 5
Like Ta’avao, Howden also missed a tackle on Segner that led to the flanker’s second try. But he was otherwise a defensive workhorse and he did what he could to try to slow the Blues down.
5. Mitch Dunshea – 6
Made plenty of tackles and got stuck in at the breakdown to secure a turnover.
6. Sean Withy – 3
Failed to make an impact on the game as the Highlanders found themselves under the pump for much of his time on the field.
7. Veveni Lasaqa – 5
Anonymous on attack but stepped up on defence to do his part to make the Blues work for their points. He made 15 tackles with just one miss
8. Nikora Broughton – 7
The pick of the Highlanders’ starting forwards, Broughton made an impact on both sides of the ball. He led the tackle count with 18, led the forwards in carries and also claimed a lineout.
9. Adam Lennox – 9
Showed his pace and vision to score a couple of swift tries, made a good tackle on a storming Sotutu, delivered the ball well and even finished up on the wing in an eventful evening. A few more performances like that could get people talking.
Adam Lennox was impressive for the Highlanders against the Blues. Photo / Photosport
10. Cameron Millar – 3
Not the most involved contest you’ll see from the Highlanders’ first five-eighths. He kicked his goals and made some good passes, but did not contribute much else – he only put up one kick in open play.
11. Jona Nareki – 4
Killed a promising early move with a terribly forward pass and was largely contained on attack, but made his tackles. Replaced after 65 minutes.
12. Timoci Tavatavanawai – 7
Stonewalled a promising Blues attack, getting over the breakdown deep in his own territory. Came to life in the second half to get the Highlanders on the front foot with some wrecking-ball carries.
13. Tanielu Tele’a – 7
Showed plenty of intent when he got the ball in his hands and made a nice one-two punch with Tavatavanawai late in the contest and scored a couple of tries.
14. Caleb Tangitau – 5
Was well contained early, until he left Taele in his wake to shoot through the defence and set up a try. Unfortunately, that was his last involvement in the contest. He left the pitch after 32 minutes following a high shot courtesy of Sullivan and did not return.
15. Taine Robinson – 3
Had a couple of good carries in the first half, but was tested under the high ball and was replaced soon after halftime.
Bench
16. Soane Vikena – 6
Barged over for a try against his former team, defended well and threw the ball well to what was, at times, a shaky Highlanders lineout.
17. Josh Bartlett – 5
Followed the tone set by de Groot and kept himself busy in a 15-minute stint.
18. Saula Ma’u – 4
Replaced Ta’avao early in the second half and provided a set of fresh legs but was largely kept in check.
19. Oliver Haig – 4
Tackled well but his impact was otherwise limited.
20. Lucas Casey – 7
Proved to be a handful for the Blues’ attack with some dominant carries. He came on with fewer than 20 minutes remaining, but he made the most of his time on the pitch.
21. Folau Fakatava – 5
Added another element of speed and unpredictability to the Highlanders’ attack as things got a bit loose in the final 20 minutes.
22. Xavier Tito-Harris – 6
Probably didn’t expect to be making his debut with 50 minutes left in the contest, but played a confident hand and bagged a try.
23. Finn Hurley – 6
Made good metres when he got room to move and showed his ability to get the ball free for an offload and set up a try. Played his part in the comeback effort.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.