Blues vs Highlanders Prediction: Blues to show their true colours

There is an all-Kiwi Super Rugby Pacific clash to look forward to on Friday morning (08:05, Sky Sports+), as the Blues host the Highlanders at Eden Park.

Alex Jack provides his best bets in his Blues vs Highlanders prediction piece, as well as all the essential team news and match odds for the showdown in Auckland.

Team News

Mason Tupaea, Bradley Slater and Marcel Renata start in the front row for the Blues, with locks Patrick Tuipulotu and Sam Darry in the second row.

Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu complete the pack, while it is Finlay Christie and Beauden Barrett who start in the half-backs.

Xavi Taele and AJ Lam start in the centres, while the hosts go with a back three of Codemeru Vai, Cole Forbes and Zarn Sullivan.

As for the Highlanders, Ethan de Groot, Jack Taylor and Angus Ta’avao start in the front row, with second-rowers TK Howden and Mitch Dunshea in the engine room.

Sean Withy, Veveni Lasaqa and Nikora Broughton form the back row, with Adam Lennox and Cameron Millar in the half-backs.

Timoci Tavatavanawai and Tanielu Tele’a pair up in the centres, with the Highlanders going for a back three of Jona Nareki, Caleb Tangitau and Taine Robinson.

Blues vs Highlanders Odds

The Blues are 1/8 favourites for the victory, while the Highlanders are 11/2 to head back to Dunedin with the spoils.

A draw is currently 33/1, while the Highlanders to be ahead at the half-time whistle is priced at 16/5.

Blues -17 handicap @ 6/5

Having suffered a humbling 42-19 defeat at the hands of the Hurricanes in the last round, the Blues will be determined to show their true colours in Friday’s clash at Eden Park.

The Highlanders also go into this match on the back of a defeat, having lost 14-10 at home against the Brumbies in Round 9.

While the Highlanders managed a 29-21 win the last time they faced the Blues in Dunedin, that victory ended an eight-game winning streak in this fixture for the Auckland outfit.

The Blues have won their last eight home games against the Highlanders and they have the personnel to not only win on Friday but cover the handicap in the process.

Christie and Barrett are quality operators in the half-backs, while the likes of Lam, Vai, Forbes and Sullivan have the ability to strike from anywhere.

Conceding only 9.3 points per game across their last three home matches against the Highlanders, the Blues have been able to largely contain the men from Dunedin in Auckland and the hosts to cover the -17 handicap appeals at odds of 6/5.

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