Highlanders
Brumbies
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Championship Standings
The Brumbies sit 4th on 20 points — comfortably in the playoff picture despite back-to-back home losses. The Highlanders are 8th on 14 points, six adrift of the top four and needing wins to keep playoff hopes alive.
| Pos | Team | P | W | L | PD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hurricanes | 6 | 5 | 1 | +166 | 25 |
| 2 | Blues | 7 | 5 | 2 | +95 | 25 |
| 3 | Chiefs | 7 | 5 | 2 | +59 | 22 |
| 4 | Brumbies | 7 | 4 | 3 | +50 | 20 |
| 5 | Crusaders | 7 | 4 | 3 | +49 | 18 |
| 6 | Queensland Reds | 7 | 4 | 3 | −41 | 18 |
| 7 | NSW Waratahs | 7 | 3 | 4 | −43 | 14 |
| 8 | Highlanders | 7 | 3 | 4 | −44 | 14 |
| 9 | Western Force | 7 | 2 | 5 | −29 | 8 |
| 10 | Fijian Drua | 7 | 2 | 5 | −100 | 8 |
| 11 | Moana Pasifika | 7 | 1 | 6 | −162 | 4 |
Highlanders
W3, L4The Highlanders' season has been a rollercoaster. The 7–50 home demolition by the Hurricanes in Round 6 was the low point. They bounced back against Moana Pasifika, but that's the weakest side in the competition. The negative 47 point differential tells the story.
Brumbies
W4, L3The Brumbies started like a freight train — 56–24 at the Force and 50–24 at the Crusaders. But three losses from their last four is concerning despite a strong overall differential.
Head-to-Head in Dunedin
7 – 0 – 8
Highlanders wins · Draws · Brumbies wins (last 15 meetings overall)
Closely matched historically, but the Brumbies have won the last four meetings — including a 27–21 victory at Forsyth Barr in 2024. Before that run, the Highlanders had won five straight.
Recent Results
| Date | Competition | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 2025 | Super Rugby | Brumbies 34–27 Highlanders |
| Jun 2024 | Super Rugby | Brumbies 32–16 Highlanders |
| Mar 2024 | Super Rugby | Highlanders 21–27 Brumbies |
| May 2023 | Super Rugby | Brumbies 48–32 Highlanders |
| Apr 2022 | Super Rugby | Highlanders 17–28 Brumbies |
| Jun 2021 | Super Rugby | Brumbies 12–33 Highlanders |
Average score in the last 6 meetings: Brumbies 31 – Highlanders 25. The Brumbies have won the last four by an average margin of 11 points.
Extended Form
Highlanders6W, 8L
Just 6 wins from 14. Wins largely against bottom-half sides. The 7–50 Hurricanes hammering and the 14–31 Reds loss show the gulf against genuine contenders.
The Highlanders' recent 14-game record is poor. They struggle against quality opposition, but at Forsyth Barr they've been competitive — the 29–21 Blues win last year proves they can compete at home.
Brumbies8W, 6L
Strong at 8W-6L, with massive away wins like 56–24 at Force and 50–24 at Crusaders. But three losses from last four is alarming.
The Brumbies' extended form is strong overall. The recent dip is concerning but this is a squad that beat the Blues, Chiefs, and Hurricanes at home earlier this season.
Highlanders XV
Lineups not yet announced. The Highlanders will be buoyed by the R7 bonus-point win over Moana Pasifika and will name their strongest available XV.
Brumbies XV
Lineups not yet announced. The Brumbies arrive having lost three of four, and the trans-Tasman travel adds another layer of difficulty.
Key Matchups
The Brumbies hold the edge in the tight exchanges — their pack has been the foundation of their season. The Highlanders' best chance lies in the backrow battle and using their back three's pace on the counter. But the Brumbies' 9-10 axis is a class above, and their bench depth should prove decisive in the final quarter.
Match Forecast
The Brumbies should win in Dunedin despite their recent wobble. The scorecard's −8 is driven by the crushing head-to-head record — four straight wins, including at Forsyth Barr in 2024. The Brumbies' superior set piece, deeper squad, and more composed halfback play give them structural advantages.
The Highlanders' path to an upset runs through their home crowd and the Brumbies' fragile confidence. But the Brumbies, even out of form, are a different proposition to Moana Pasifika. The trans-Tasman travel factor could narrow the margin, but expect the Brumbies to grind this one out.
Brumbies to win by 10+ points — recent H2H dominance and superior squad depth overcome the Highlanders' home advantage.