Suliasi Vunivalu scored two tries for the Reds and also outplayed Highlanders player, Jona Nareki on the wing last night however this was not enough as the Highlanders thumped the Reds 40-19 in the Trans-Tasman opener.
Triumphant over the Brumbies only six days ago in a thrilling Super Rugby AU final, the Reds came crashing back to earth with a heavy loss.
The Highlanders won only three of eight games in Super Rugby Aotearoa while the Reds lost just one in the AU version.
Yet New Zealand's fourth-best outfit was still streets ahead of Australia's champions last night.
In the matches tonight, the Crusaders will play the Brumbies at 7.05pm, the Rebels will face the Blues at 9.45pm and the Force will take on the Chiefs at 11.55pm.
HIGHLANDERS 40
TRIES: Dixon 2, Gregory, Tomkinson, Coltman, Punivai
CONS: Hunt 5
PENS:
REDS 19
TRIES: Vunivalu 2, Thomas
CONS: O'Connor, Hegarty
[Source: Rugby.com.au]
