The 14-man Highlanders have hung on for a famous upset victory over the Blues in Dunedin.
Despite playing the last 20 minutes a man down after hooker Daniel Lienert-Brown was sent off, the Highlanders clung to a 29-21 win at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Round 2 of Super Rugby Pacific on Saturday night.
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Wing Sam Gilbert and fullback Finn Hurley accounted for all the points for the Highlanders, who were reduced to 13 players at one point in the second half as front row injuries prevented them from packing down a scrum.
Highlanders co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai produced a big effort to get his side home with three turnovers as the side honoured departed outside back Connor Garden-Bachop before the game.
For the Blues there was limited highlights with a number of senior players having off days and some senseless kicking to the man instead of space
The defending champion Blues are winless after two rounds in 2025 and face the Hurricanes in Wellington next week. The Highlanders play Moana Pasifika in Auckland.
The Hurricanes also picked up their first victory of the season on Saturday, with Harry Godfrey's 76th-minute try lifting them to a 38-34 win over the Fijian Drua at Napier's McLean Park.
Cam Roigard had a strong influence for the home side scoring after 38 seconds when he darted 20 metres from the back of the ruck before off-loading to flanker Du'Plessis Kirifi.
But in a sign of things to come the Drua, who were pipped by the ACT Brumbies in round one, hit back in the sixth minute, with Iliesa Junior Ratuva catching the Hurricanes defence short out wide.
The scoreboard continued to tick over with the Fijians ahead 22-19 at halftime, helped by some poor discipline by the home side with both Kirifi and Will Tucker yellow-carded.
The Drua could have been further in front but flanker Meli Derenalagi threw a wild pass that went metres forward with the tryline beckoning.
Minutes later flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula then launched an unnecessarily long cut-out pass to Taniela Rakuro, with the winger ruled to have put his hand on the dead-ball line as he grounded the ball.
The islanders pushed the lead out to 27-19 with lock Isoa Nasilasila at the end of some quick hands but then Roigard played his hand in the 58th minute, sniping through a hole for a one-point ball game.
The Hurricanes hit the lead after 67 minutes with centre Bailyn Sullivan running onto a long Roigard pass but it was short-lived with the bold Drua scoring off a long five metre line-out to regain the lead 34-31.
With five minutes remaining, the visitors spilt the restart and the Hurricanes pounced, with Riley Hohepa bursting through the defence before finding Godfrey for the match-winner.
Highlanders 29 (Finn Hurley 2, Sam Gilbert tries; Sam Gilbert con, 4 pen) Blues 21 (Finlay Christie, Beauden Barrett, Ricky Riccitelli tries; Beauden Barrett 3 con). HT: 13-14
Hurricanes 38 (Du’Plessis Kirifi, Brayden Iose, Fehi Fineanganofo, Cam Roigard, Bailyn Sullivan, Harry Godfrey tries; Harry Godfrey 4 con) Fijian Drua 34 (Junior Ratuva, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Frank Lomani, Isoa Nasilasila, Elia Canakaivata tries; Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula 3 con, pen). HT: 19-22