The Highlanders thumped the Crusaders 38-21 in their pre-Super Rugby season trial match at Whitestone Contracting Stadium in Oamaru on Friday.

The Highlanders outscored the Crusaders by six tries to three with All Black Ma'a Nonu scoring his first Highlanders try on his debut for the franchise.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder elected to rest some of his highers profile All Blacks such as Dan Carter and Kieran Read but Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph gave most of his stars some game time.

Joseph also stuck largely with the same team for the second half while Blackadder chose to give some of his Academy and wider training group players a run.

More to follow.

Final Score Highlanders 38 (19) Crusaders 21 (14)

Scorers

Highlanders
Tries: Hayden Parker 2, Ma'a Nonu, Buxton Popoali'i, Hosea Gear, Lima Sopoaga
Con : Sopoaga 2, Parker 2
Pen :

Crusaders
Tries : Luke Romano 2, Kieran Fonotia
Con : Tom Taylor 2, Tyler Bleyendaa
Pen :

Teams

Highlanders

1. Tony Woodcock ,2. Brayden Mitchell,3. Ma'afu Fia,4. Brad Thorn,5. Jarrad Hoeata,6. Joe Wheeler,7. John Hardie,8. Elliot Dixon,9. Aaron Smith,10. Lima Sopoaga ,11. Hosea Gear (c),12. Ma'a Nonu,13. Phil Burleigh ,14. Kade Poki ,15. Buxton Popoalii

Replacements : Backs: Jason Emery, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Shaun Treeby and Frae Wilson.

Forwards: Hugh Blake, Liam Coltman, Tom Franklin, Paul Grant, Jamie Mackintosh & Bronson Murray.

Crusaders

Tom Marshall, Adam Whitelock, Israel Dagg, Ryan Crotty (c), Johnny McNicholl, Tom Taylor, Andy Ellis, Jordan Taufua, Shane Christie, Luke Whitelock, Dominic Bird, Luke Romano, Pa'ea Fa'anunu, Ben Funnell, Wyatt Crockett.

Replacements: Codie Taylor, Adrian Barone, Joe Moody, Jimmy Tupou, Jeremy Su'a, Willi Heinz, Robbie Fruean, Telusa Veainu, Joel Everson, Mitch Graham, Matt Todd, Tyler Blyendaal, Kieran Fonotia, George Whitelock, James Schrader.