Highlanders vs Blues Tips - Highlanders to cover the line in Super Rugby

Ralph Staniforth

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Last updated: Fri 21 Feb 2025 08:37

Ralph Staniforth 21 Feb 2025

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Highlanders perform well at home but lost to the Waratahs in 2025 opener.
Blues are the defending champions; defeated Highlanders twice in 2024.
Betting tip: Highlanders to cover the +11.5 handicap against the Blues.

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Highlanders ran the Blues close on home soil when they last met (Getty Images)

Highlanders vs Blues Preview

The Highlanders produced some solid performances at home last year. While the Blues should be too good here, I'm backing the Highlanders to cover the +11.5 handicap.

Highlanders vs Blues Preview
Head to Head
Highlanders Form
Highlanders Team News
Blues Form
Blues Team News

Highlanders lost their last game to the Waratahs.
Blues won both of their games against the Highlanders in 2024.
Blues are the defending Super Rugby champions.
Blues lost their last match at home to the Chiefs.

Head to Head

The Blues beat the Highlanders twice in 2024. At home they were 47-13 winners while the Highlanders competed well in Dunedin, losing 37-29.

Highlanders Form

The Highlanders have been the one New Zealand side that has consistently struggled in Super Rugby in recent years. Much the same is expected in 2025, but they do have the quality to make another trip to the quarter-finals.

Their 2025 campaign didn’t start off too well, losing 37-36 to the Waratahs in Sydney. Lest we forget, the Tahs’ finished bottom of the table in 2024.

Both teams will feel like they partly deserved to win and lose with neither side showing much defensive prowess. That is something the Highlanders could come to rue against a far strong side in the Blues.

Highlanders Team News

15 Finn Hurley, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), 11 Caleb Tangitau, 10 Taine Robinson, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton (co-captain), 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Sean Withy, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Saula Ma’u, 2 Soane Mikaele Vikena, 1 Ethan de Groot.

Replacements: 16 Jack Taylor, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Nikora Broughton, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Cameron Millar, 23 Lui Naeata.

Blues Form

The Blues won the 2024 Super Rugby title, beating the Chiefs in the final. They also beat the Highlanders both home and away last season.

This season didn’t start too well though as the Blues lost a repeat of that final from 2024 to the Chiefs. At home, the Auckland outfit were expected to pull through, but the Chiefs dominated the key phases of the game to take the victory and deny the defending champions a bonus point.

Blues Team News

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Mark Tele’a, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 AJ Lam, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Harry Plummer, 9 Finlay Christie, 8 Hoskins Sotutu, 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Cameron Suafoa, 5 Laghlan McWhannell, 4 Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), 3 Marcel Renata, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ofa Tu’ungafasi.

Replacements: 16 James Mullan, 17 Joshua Fusitu’a, 18 Angus Ta’avao, 19 Josh Beehre, 20 Adrian Choat, 21 Taufa Funaki, 22 Corey Evans, 23 Cole Forbes.

Verdict

Highlanders v Blues

The Blues should have enough to win but the Highlanders, on home soil, can challenge the champions. My best bet is for the hosts to get within the 11.5 handicap.