| Home team | Highlanders |
| Away team | Waratahs |
| Venue | Forsyth Barr Stadium |
| Competition | Super Rugby Pacific |
| Kick off time | 5:35 am (UK) |
| Watch Live in the UK | Sky Sports+ |
Highlanders vs Waratahs at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
These two teams currently sit equal on 20 points, with the Highlanders having played one game more. They are level on points with the Fijian Drua ahead of them in seventh. They are still within touching distance of the Brumbies in sixth but would need a bonus point win to draw level with them.
Read more match previews for all your rugby action here
Highlanders vs Waratahs confirmed lineups and team news
| Highlanders | Waratahs | ||||
| Forwards | |||||
| de Groot | 1 | Kailea | |||
| Taylor | 2 | Dobbins | |||
| Ta’avao | 3 | Botha | |||
| Lavanini | 4 | Amatosero | |||
| Dunshea | 5 | Blyth | |||
| Howden | 6 | Scott-Young | |||
| Casey | 7 | Gamble | |||
| Broughton | 8 | Samu | |||
| Backs | |||||
| Lennox | 9 | Gordon | |||
| Millar | 10 | Debreczeni | |||
| Lowe | 11 | Harvey | |||
| Tavatavanawai | 12 | Creighton | |||
| Nareki | 13 | Suaalii | |||
| Tangitau | 14 | Kellaway | |||
| Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens | 15 | Jorgensen | |||
| Replacements | |||||
| Vikena | 16 | Fainga’a | |||
| Lienert-Brown | 17 | Barrett | |||
| Ma’u | 18 | Ranawai | |||
| Haig | 19 | Halaholo | |||
| Withy | 20 | Talataina | |||
| Shearer | 21 | Wilson | |||
| Robinson | 22 | Bowen | |||
| Tito-Harris | 23 | Potter | |||
Recent Form:
Highlanders (Home team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 2nd May 2026 | Super Rugby | Fijian Drua | 24-14 |
| Won | 26th April 2026 | Super Rugby | Moana Pasifika | 27-17 |
| Loss | 17th April 2026 | Super Rugby | Blues | 47-40 |
| Loss | 10th April 2026 | Super Rugby | Brumbies | 10-14 |
| Won | 27th March 2026 | Super Rugby | Moana Pasifika | 19-39 |
The Highlanders have only won one of their last four matches and two of their last seven. In the last round, they lost 24-14 to the Fijian Drua. They were 14-12 ahead at half-time but didn’t score in the second half and conceded twice.
Waratahs (Away team):
| Result | Date | Competition | Opponent | Score |
| Loss | 1st May 2026 | Super Rugby | Western Force | 17-20 |
| Loss | 24th April 2026 | Super Rugby | Crusaders | 35-20 |
| Won | 17th April 2026 | Super Rugby | Moana Pasifika | 29-14 |
| Loss | 4th April 2026 | Super Rugby | Chiefs | 42-14 |
| Won | 27th March 2026 | Super Rugby | Brumbies | 28-30 |
The Waratahs have lost two games in a row and have only won two of the last eight games in Super Rugby. In the last round, they lost at home to the Western Force. They lost 20-17, but were 10-3 ahead just before halftime. The Waratahs scored with five minutes to go to bring it within three, but couldn’t get a late winner.
Highlanders vs Waratahs head-to-head record (last five matches):
| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| 14th February 2025 | Super Rugby | Waratahs | 37-36 |
| 8th March 2024 | Super Rugby | Highlanders | 21-23 |
| 28th April 2023 | Super Rugby | Waratahs | 21-20 |
| 22nd May 2022 | Super Rugby | Waratahs | 20-32 |
| 5th June 2021 | Super Rugby | Highlanders | 59-23 |
The Waratahs have won three of the last four meetings between the two teams. The last three meetings have all been decided by two points or less.
