The Blues have continued their unbeaten start to 2024 and stretched the Highlanders' misery against their Kiwi rivals with a 37-29 victory to open Super Round in Melbourne.
The Blues have opened the final weekend of the Super Rugby Pacific regular season with a 16-9 home win over the Highlanders that severely dented the visitors' playoff hopes and opened the door for three of their rivals.
Mutual respect between competing Highlanders halfbacks Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava was central to the hopes of creating an ongoing legacy for the side in their position.
A last-minute try has robbed the Queensland Reds of just their second win in 27 years in Dunedin and left the injury-hit side in grave danger of missing the Super Rugby Pacific finals.
The Melbourne Rebels' slim hopes of making the Super Rugby Pacific finals have suffered a hammer blow after their clash with the Highlanders ended in heartbreaking fashion in Dunedin.