Page 15 - Harry Plummer News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

App users click here for latest updates. Blues 32 Highlanders 17 Highlanders (Dixon, Fakatava tries; Ioane 2 conversions, penalty goal) Full time 77th minute - The game is turning scrappy with both sides throwing their subs on and throwing the ball around. Garden-Bachop breaks again down the wing but knocks is on in contact.  At the scrum, the Blues dominate and win a penalty on halfway.  72nd minute -  TRY HIGHLANDERS to Folau Fakatava From the lineout five metres out and the rolling maul going nowhere, Fakatavasnipes down the short side and catches the Blues napping and crashes over.  I...

Sam Darry will make his Super Rugby debut for the Blues on Sunday in their home opener. The easy option for Sam Darry would have been to stay exactly where he was, in a familiar home city, surrounded by family and friends, immersed in a proven Crusaders rugby development system and just wait for his chances to eventually roll around. But, like the proverbial salmon swimming against the current, the 20-year-old Dunedin-born Cantabrian decided to take the less travelled route and jump off the famous red and black rugby production line to come north to seek opportunity. It is fair to say the e...

Leon MacDonald includes rookie lock Sam Darry as surprise starter to face Highlanders on Sunday.

App users click here for latest updates Hurricanes 16 Blues 31 Blues (Papalii, Carke, Perofeta, Ioane tries; Black 4 conversion, 1 penalty) Full time 80 mins - The Hurricanes have one final opportunity to attack on their own 22. After seven phases the attack comes to nothing and the Blues grab first blood.  77 mins - TRY BLUES to Rieko Ioane The Hurricanes go for a risky crossfield kick which Barrett and Umaga-Jensen make a meal of. It falls to Ioane who sprints 60m to seal the deal. Black converts the try. (BLU 31-16) 75 mins - PENALTY GOAL BLUES to Otere Black The Blues are attacking jus...

Hannah Peters/Getty Images Patrick Tuipulotu and the Blues have big ambitions in 2021, but as always will have to get past the Crusaders first. Leon MacDonald gets them. A lot. You know the people, rushing up to him at the supermarket, or the café, or in the street, full of hope and excitement, proclaiming: “This is our year.” The Blues coach tends to smile and nod reassuringly. He loves the optimism as much as he treasures the support. Who is he to point out how tough that pathway is and how difficult the Crusaders are to budge from that throne.