SUPER UPSETS: 'Landers stun defending champs Blues, Force down Brumbies

Today at 06:16 AM

SATURDAY WRAP: The Highlanders have produced one of the most emotional wins in their history as they defeated the Blues 29-21.

The hosts were down to 13 with 20 minutes to go after prop Daniel Lienert-Brown was red-carded for a high cleanout.

However, captain Timoci Tavatavanawai produced a heroic effort to get his side home on their return to Dunedin.

The centre had three turnovers and a crucial 50-22 to inspire the hosts home against the odds.

There were special scenes as the Highlanders honoured departed outside back Connor Garden-Bachop before the game.

Forsyth Barr Stadium celebrated Garden-Bachop's life by signing his favourite song 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by John Denver, before performing their haka as both sides presented No.14 jerseys in his honour.

The Blues were quick to quiet the crowd when scrumhalf Finlay Christie found the chalk from close to the ruck.

It took a piece of magic from Finn Hurley to re-ignite 'The Zoo' with a special play.

The fullback chipped ahead for himself at the half-hour mark before finishing a great try in the corner.

Sam Gilbert's try gave them hope, and when Hurley's second answered Ricky Riccitelli's try, they were back in front.

This is where the drama intensified, with Lienert-Brown's red card forcing them down to 13 after injuries to fellow front-rowers Saula Ma'u and Ethan de Groot.

The Blues threw everything at the Highlanders but couldn't find a way through Tavatavanawai and the Highlanders.

It allowed them to outscore the visitors despite being down two players to claim a special win.

The win ensures the Highlanders rise into the top four, while the defending champions are left to reflect as they are left pointless at the bottom of the ladder.

They face a tough task in the Hurricanes next week in Wellington, whilst the Highlanders take on Moana Pasifika.

Elsewhere, All Blacks scrumhalf Cam Roigard has helped the Hurricanes to their first Super Rugby Pacific victory, taking a thrilling win over a wasteful Fijian Drua outfit.

Roigard failed to stamp his authority on their first-round match, with the Hurricanes falling to the Crusaders.

But the No.9 set up three tries and scored one of his own among 11 for the day to bank an important 38-34 result at McLean Park in Napier on Saturday.

The Western Force have found their way to claim a 45-42 win over the Brumbies in Canberra.

Simon Cron's side survived an onslaught from the Brumbies and four yellow cards for their first win in Canberra in just under 14 years.

See below for Saturday's scores and scorers!

Hurricanes 38-34 Fijian Drua

For Hurricanes:

Tries: Kirifi, Iose, Fineanganofo, Roigard, Sullivan, Godfrey
Cons: Godfrey 4

For Fijian Drua:
Tries: Ratuva, Canakaivata, Nasilasila, Lomani, Armstrong-Ravula.
Con: Armstrong-Ravula 2
Pen: Armstrong-Ravula

Teams:

Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Fehi Fineanganofo, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 11 Kini Naholo, 10 Harry Godfrey, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 DuPlessis Kirifi (co-captain), 6 Brad Shields (co-captain), 5 Hugo Plummer, 4 Caleb Delany, 3 Tevita Mafileo, 2 Jacob Devery, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacement: 16 Raymond Tuputupu, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Will Tucker, 20 Peter Lakai, 21 Ereatara Enari, 22 Riley Hohepa, 23 Ngatungane Punivai.

Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Junior Ratuva, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 11 Tanilea Rakuro, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Emosi Tuqiri.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Meli Tuni, 19 Leona Rotuisolia, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Iosefo Masi.

Referee: James Doleman
Assistant referees: Fraser Hannon, Maggie Cogger-Orr
TMO: Marcus Playle

[rp-mc-teams-match-summary id="205|945271|2025"][/rp-mc-teams-match-summary]

Highlanders 29-21 Blues

For Highlanders:
Tries: Hurley 2, Gilbert
Con: Gilbert
Pens: Gilbert 4

For Blues:
Tries: Christie, Barrett, Riccitelli
Con: Barrett 3

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Finn Hurley, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Tanielu Tele'a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Caleb Tangitau, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma'u, 2 Soane Mikaele Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Lui Naeata.

Blues: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele'a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali'i, 6 Cameron Suafoa, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu'ungafasi.
Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Joshua Fusitu'a, 18 Angus Ta'avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.

Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy, Jeremy Markey
TMO: Brett Cronan

[rp-mc-teams-match-summary id="205|945272|2025"][/rp-mc-teams-match-summary]

Brumbies 42-45 Western Force

For Brumbies:
Tries: Muirhead, Meredith, Cale 2, Saumaisue, Toole
Cons: R. Lonergan 6

For Western Force:
Tries: Dolly, Potter, Pietsch 2, Tizzano, Paenga-Amosa
Cons: Donaldson 5, Burey
Pen: Donaldson

Teams:

Brumbies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andy Muirhead, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Ollie Sapsford, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan (captain), 8 Charlie Cale, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rory Scott, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Blake Schoupp, 18 Rhys van Nek, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Tuaina Taii Tualima, 21 Harrison Goddard, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Hudson Creighton

Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Dylan Pietsch, 13 Sio Tomkinson, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nic White, 8 Reed Prinsep, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (captain), 3 Tom Robertson, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Marley Pearce.
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Atu Moli, 19 Sam Carter, 20 Will Harris, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Max Burey, 23 George Poolman.

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
Assistant referees: Anthony Petrie, Stu Curran
TMO: Glenn Newman

[rp-mc-teams-match-summary id="205|945273|2025"][/rp-mc-teams-match-summary]

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Source: Super Rugby