Hoskins Sotutu of the Blues in action during the round two Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and Blues at AAMI Park. Photo: Getty Images
Both of these sides were coming off good wins in their first games, but the feeling was that the Blues never really got out of third gear in Whangārei against the Drua.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders certainly had to rise to the occasion against Moana, scoring an early contender for try of the year. This was the opening game in Super Rugby's Super Round, taking place once again at AAMI Park in Melbourne.
Blues: 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi 2. Ricky Riccitelli 3. Marcel Renata 4. Laghlan McWhannell 5. Sam Darry 6. Akira Ioane 7. Dalton Papali'i (c) 8. Hoskins Sotutu 9. Taufa Funaki 10. Stephen Perofeta 11. Caleb Clarke 12. Bryce Heem 13. A.J. Lam 14. Mark Tele'a 15. Zarn Sullivan Reserves: 16. Soane Vikena 17. Joshua Fusitu'a 18. Angus Ta'avao 19. Josh Beehre 20. Adrian Choat 21. Sam Nock 22. Harry Plummer 23. Cole Forbes
Highlanders: 1. Ethan de Groot 2. Henry Bell 3. Jermaine Ainsley 4. Pari Pari Parkinson 5. Max Hicks 6. Sean Withy 7. Billy Harmon (C) 8. Hugh Renton 9. Folau Fakatava 10. Rhys Patchell 11. Jona Nareki 12. Sam Gilbert (VC) 13. Tanielu Tele'a 14. Timoci Tavatavanawai 15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens Reserves: 16. Ricky Jackson 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Saula Ma'u 19. Fabian Holland 20. Nikora Broughton 21. Nathan Hastie 22. Ajay Faleafaga 23. Jonah Lowe
Recap all the action on RNZ's live blog:
