The Blues have played the Highlanders 31 times in Super rugby since 1996 and the Blues have won 16 matches and the Highlanders have won 15.
Those 16 Super rugby victories give the Blues a record of winning 52% of their matches – regardless of venue against the Highlanders.
This weekend the match will be played in Auckland where the teams have met 15 times.
In those 15 matches the Blues have won 10 and lost five. That gives the Blues a record of winning 67% of their matches against the Highlanders.
The average score when the Blues play the Highlanders in Dunedin is : Blues 27 Highlanders 22.
While the Blues have won 67% of their matches against the Highlanders they have lost their last two at home in Dunedin against the Dunedin side and they have lost their last five against the same opposition regardless of venue.
Average score: Blues 26 Highlanders 23
Last five results
Fri, 20 Apr 2018 Blues 16-34 Highlanders @Auckland
Fri, 23 Feb 2018 Highlanders 41-34 Blues @Dunedin
Sat, 08 Apr 2017 Highlanders 26-20 Blues @Dunedin
Sat, 11 Mar 2017 Blues 12-16 Highlanders @Auckland
Fri, 26 Feb 2016 Blues 33-31 Highlanders @Auckland
Blues overall record against the Highlanders
Played 31 , Wins 16, Losses 15, Draws 0
Teams
Blues
15 Melani Nanai, 14 Tanielu Tele’a, 13 TJ Faiane, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Jonathan Ruru; 8 Akira Ioane, 7 Blake Gibson, 6 Tom Robinson, 5 Josh Goodhue, 4 Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 3 Sione Mafileo, 2 James Parsons, 1. Alex Hodgman.
Replacements: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Ofa Tuungafasi, 18 Karl Tu’inukuafe i, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Dalton Papalii, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Otere Black, 23 Levi Aumua or Matt Duffie.
Highlanders
1. Ayden Johnstone,2. Liam Coltman,3. Tyrel Lomax,4. Pari Pari Parkinson,5. Tom Franklin,6. Shannon Frizell,7. Dillon Hunt,8. Luke Whitelock (cc),9. Aaron Smith,10. Marty Banks,11. Tevita Li,12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen,13. Patelesio Tomkinson,14. Waisake Naholo,15. Ben Smith (cc)
Replacements : 16. Ray Niuia ,17. Daniel Lienert-Brown,18. Siate Tokolahi,19. Josh Dickson,20. Jackson Hemopo,21. Folau Fakatava,22. Josh Ioane,23. Richard Buckman
Match Officials and details
Date : Friday 22 March
Venue : Eden Park, Auckland
Kick Off local: 19:35
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Ref 1:Nic Berry
Assistant Ref 2:Brendan Pickerill
TMO : Ben Skeen
