Dominant Blues hand heavy defeat to Highlanders despite late fight-back from southerners

Otere Black claimed 19 points as the Auckland Blues cruised to a 39-17 win over the Otago Highlanders at Eden Park to pick up a second straight win at the start of the new Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign.

Black scored a try, two penalties and four conversions as Leon MacDonald’s team secured a bonus point from a dominant display against the outclassed Highlanders to move into second place in the early season standings.

The Blues will go into their meeting with the Canterbury Crusaders next week five points behind Scott Robertson’s team, having played one game fewer.

Auckland blues utility forward Tom Robinson talks about his approach to 2021 in a side stacked with loose forward talent.

Auckland blues utility forward Tom Robinson talks about his approach to 2021 in a side stacked with loose forward talent.

Otago took an early lead through Josh Ioane’s fourth-minute penalty, but before long the home side were imposing themselves on the game as they camped out in the Highlanders’ half.

Black crossed the line in the 10th minute to score after Rieko Ioane burst through the Highlanders defensive line before offloading to his teammate for the try.

A tough afternoon for the men from the South at Eden Park. #BLUvHIG #SuperRugbyAotearoa https://t.co/8ujV9OxeDp

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 14, 2021

Caleb Clarke added a second for the Blues seven minutes later at the end of a flowing passage of play that saw Black move the ball out to Ioane, who released All Black Clarke to score.

Black added a penalty 12 minutes before the end of a half totally dominated by the Blues, who should have been further ahead by the time the hooter sounded.

The Highlanders’ hopes were hit further with the loss through injury to Jona Nareki, who starred in Otago’s win over Waikato Chiefs last week, while Josh Dickson entered the sin bin in the dying minutes of the half to heap more pressure on Otago.

The Blues took advantage with Emoni Narawa crossing the line three minutes after the restart, with the replacement scoring out wide.

While Ash Dixon’s try gave the Highlanders a glimmer of hope, a penalty from Black and a converted try by Akira Ioane 16 minutes from time put the result beyond doubt.

Folau Fakatava reduced the deficit with nine minutes still on the clock, but it was little more than a consolation for Tony Brown’s team.

Blues 39 (Otere Black, Caleb Clarke, Kurt Eklund, Akira Ioane, Emoni Narawa tries; Black 4 cons, 2 pens)

Highlanders 17 (Ash Dixon, Folau Fakatava tries; Josh Ioane 2 cons, pen)