The Otago Highlanders tuned up for the Super Rugby finals with a convincing 40-17 win over the Queensland Reds in Dunedin on Friday.
The Highlanders scored six tries to three, showing no signs of rust after a month on the sidelines following their shock win over the touring British and Irish Lions.
They went into the match already assured of a play-off spot and will meet either the Canterbury Crusaders or Golden Lions in next week’s quarter-finals.
Regardless of their opponent, the 2015 champions showed they will be no also-rans in the finals as they adopted a high-tempo passing game against the Reds.
The Reds, while dynamic at times, had nothing to play for and the loss extends Australian teams’ losing streak against New Zealand opposition this year to 24-0.
The Highlanders needed only two minutes to score their first try, throwing the ball around to stretch the Reds’ defence before Waisake Naholo crashed over in the corner.
Flanker James Lentjes added another five minutes later, fending off Reds fullback Karmichael Hunt after the Highlanders quick passing again tore apart the visitors’ defence.
The Reds finally managed to slow the game and exert pressure but Caleb Timu knocked on with the tryline open in front of him.
Veteran flanker George Smith then saved a try on the line for the Reds, only for Highlanders scrum-half Kayne Hammington to dart over from the back of the resulting scrum.
The Queenslanders patiently worked the ball and were rewarded when lock Izack Rodda scored a pick-and-go try to make it 21-5 at half time.
But they had a horror start after the break when replacement halfback Hamish Stewart’s kick was charged down and the Highlanders quickly worked the ball to Tevita Li for a try in the corner.
It got worse when they conceded a penalty try on the back of a woeful scrum, blowing out the deficit to 33-5.
Alex Mafi narrowed the gap with a pushover try from a maul but Ash Dixon scored the Highlanders’ sixth to extend their buffer to 30 points, with Timu managing a consolation try for the Queenslanders.
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