Blues head coach Leon MacDonald has named an unchanged line-up for the upcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against Highlanders to be played in Auckland on Saturday.
Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has made a solitary change to the line-up for the third round of the Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against Chiefs to be played in Auckland on Saturday.
Highlanders assistant coach and former All Blacks Mark Hammett has confirmed that he will be leaving the Super Rugby club at the end of the ongoing Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland expressed disappointment as his team was handed a one-point defeat to Highlanders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa opener in Dunedin on Saturday.
Bryn Gatland scored the decisive drop goal in the closing stage as Highlanders edged out Chiefs 28-27 in the Super Rugby Aotearoa opening game against Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Highlanders have included debutants Sam Gilbert and Vilimoni Koroi in their matchday squad for the Super Rugby Aotearoa clash against Chiefs to be played in Dunedin on Saturday.
Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has named New Zealand international Brad Weber as the captain for the Super Rugby Aotearoa opener against Highlanders to be played on Saturday in Dunedin.
Former New Zealand international Ben Smith has played down rumours of returning to his former side Highlanders ahead of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
Melbourne Rebels returned back to winning ways as they edged out Highlanders 22-28 in the fifth round of the Super Rugby clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.
Teariki Ben-Nicholas scored the decisive try in the final minute as Highlanders overcame a hat-trick from Folau Fainga'a to register a 22-23 win at GIO Stadium on Saturday.
Makazole Mapimpi and Aphelele Fassi scored two tries apiece as Sharks registered a 20-42 win over Highlanders in the second round of Super Rugby at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Friday.
Crusaders extended their domination in the ongoing Super Rugby season as they defeated Highlanders 38-14 at Orangetheory Stadium on Friday to reach the semi-final.
Highlanders have received a much-needed boost ahead of their Super Rugby quarter-final clash against Crusaders with New Zealand international Ben Smith declared fit.