Rugby: Highlanders too strong for Blues

Liaki Moli of the Blues competes with Adam Thomson of the Highlanders in the lineout during the round 14 Super Rugby match. Photo / Getty Images.

Blues 20
Highlanders 27

Blues coach Pat Lam tried something different this week, starting most of his All Blacks on the bench among a host of changes, but it was the same result for the competition's second-bottom side.

They slumped to their 11th defeat of the season but threatened an unlikely draw as they came back from 27-6 down to close to within seven points with three minutes remaining.

The Highlanders held on - they have made a habit of it this season - and it was an important win for them. It keeps them within touch of the top six and also saw them retain the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy but it wasn't exactly convincing.

They lacked the sort of urgency that has characterised their season to date and were also messy in the set-pieces. Their scrum came under considerable pressure as Tony Woodcock made his presence felt and they made more errors than they would have liked.

Some of that was caused by a Blues outfit who played with good intensity in patches - particularly in the final quarter as the Blues brought on All Blacks Ma'a Nonu, Ali Williams, Piri Weepu and Daniel Braid - but as combative as the Blues were, the home side weren't good enough to really threaten and gifted the Highlanders points.

The worst was when hooker James Parsons took a quick, long throw 5m from his own line straight to a grateful Adam Thomson who merely had to catch the ball and fall over the tryline in the 69th minute.

It gave the Highlanders the bonus-point victory and ensured they maintained their lead on the table over the Hurricanes, who romped to a big win over the Rebels earlier tonight. And any win at Eden Park is a good one.

"That's the Highlanders way,'' Thomson said of the close finish. "We always make them close in the end. It made for an interesting contest.''

The visitors did a number of things well, playing the angles and changing the direction of attack, and tried to shift the ball with pace when they saw opportunities. It resulted in an excellent first half try when they won a turnover and quickly attacked down the right through Kurt Baker before Hosea Gear popped up on the right wing to score.

Fullback Ben Smith was often at the centre of most things they did well and his pace and balance meant he was a constant threat.

Nonu also seemed to take his benching as an insult and added good intensity when he came on with 27 minutes remaining and it spurred his side two tries to Tevita Mailau and Woodcock.

Blues 20 (Tevita Mailau, Tony Woodcock tries; Gareth Anscombe 2 pens, con; Lachie Munro con) Highlanders 27 (Hosea Gear 2, Tamati Ellison, Adam Thomson tries; Chris Noakes pen, 2 cons). HT: 6-15.