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Blues fight off Highlanders in tense Super Rugby Pacific victory
By AAP
A Highlanders comeback has fallen short in a 32-25 loss in Dunedin to the Blues that consigned them to a fifth-straight Super Rugby Pacific loss this season.
The winless hosts trailed 18-3 at halftime, despite the Blues losing All Blacks star Beauden Barrett to concussion.
They scored three second-half tries and were pushed into touch in the final minute attempting to cross for a fourth that would have levelled the scores.
The Blues were slick early then held on late, Barrett's replacement Stephen Perofeta's counter-attacking try with 14 minutes remaining pushing them ahead 32-18.
The victory moves the Blues (3-1) above the Western Force to sixth ahead of a Tuesday catch-up fixture against Moana Pasifika.
Barrett, 30, had only just returned following a concussion suffered in a Test against Ireland in November.
He was taken from the field in the 41st minute after a high-speed collision with hard-running Highlanders centre Fetuli Paea.
Forsyth Barr Stadium was typically raucous as more than 7500 enjoyed the return of crowds to New Zealand Super clashes.
Fullback Sam Gilbert scored twice for the Highlanders.
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Latest Comments
He nailed a forward on this tour (and some more back in the NPC before he left lol)!
I know what you mean and see it too, he will be a late bloomer if he makes it for sure.
Go to commentsSo John, the guys you admire are from my era of the 80's and 90's. This was a time when we had players from the baby boomer era that wanted to be better and a decent coach could make them better ie the ones you mentioned. You have ignored the key ingrediant, the players. For my sins I spent a few years coaching in Subbies around 2007 to 2012 and the players didn't want to train but thought they should be picked. We would start the season with ~30 players and end up mid season with around 10, 8 of which would train.
Young men don't want to play contact sport they just want to watch it. Sadly true but with a few exceptions.
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