The Highlanders have shown they're right among this year's Super Rugby contenders with a famous victory over the Crusaders in Christchurch. The visitors were forced to come from 14-3 down but three unanswered tries either side of half-time saw them steamroll the seven-time champions; winger Waisake Naholo collecting a double.
The hosts did stage a late rally but poor handling consistently let them down as the Highlanders avenged their 26-20 loss from Dunedin earlier this year.
The Highlanders enjoyed the better of the early territory and they picked up the first points of the match with Lima Sopoaga kicking a penalty after just five minutes.
Much has been made of Colin Slade's early form - and his long-term future - and the fly-half showed exactly why he's now a genuine contender for the All Blacks No.10 jersey when he cut through in midfield. The Crusaders playmaker then threw a wonderful wide pass to Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo who flicked a ball around the corner for Matt Todd to score in the corner. With Slade down in back play, the Crusaders were forced to call on Israel Dagg for the conversion and the fullback added the extras from wide out to complete a fine passage of play for the home side.
The Highlanders were dealt a double blow when referee Glen Jackson consulted with the Television Match Official in regards to Sopoaga's tackle on Slade. The Highlanders No.10 was ruled to have used a shoulder charge and was sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes.
The visitors did well to negate the loss of Sopoaga but were forced to call on halfback Aaron Smith when they were awarded a penalty on 11 minutes. The All Blacks No.9's attempt left a lot to be desired though and the score remained 7-3 in favour of the hosts.
The Crusaders' scrum has been a weapon all year so it was little surprise when they called for a scrum from a penalty from under the sticks. The expected set-piece dominance did not arrive but it was soon provided by a barnstorming Nemani Nadolo who rumbled to within a metre of the line to set up the game's second five-pointer; back-rower Jordan Taufua the beneficiary of Fijian's strong run as the Crusaders moved out to a 14-3 lead.
Sopoaga, only a short while returned from his yellow card, then reduced the gap for the Highlanders with his second penalty of the night on 22 minutes.
Just when it looked like there would be no further points before the break, the Highlanders fired their first real shot of the half through a wonderful break from Sopoaga. The Highlanders playmaker eased through a gap from inside his own half and found a flying Ben Smith with a perfectly-timed pass for the visitors' first try of the night. Sopoaga was successful with the conversion, leaving the visitors trailing by just the one point at the break.
The unstructured trend of the first half continued after half-time with both sides producing a number of turnovers early on as they looked to get the ball wide. It would ultimately prove the undoing of the Crusaders as they went down the short side through Nadolo; the winger passing to Kieron Fonotia only for the outside-centre's quick hands to be intercepted Naholo. The Highlanders winger would run 60 metres untouched to give the visitors the most unlikely of 18-14 leads.
One try soon became two for Naholo as he picked up his second double for 2015 on 50 minutes. The Highlanders had been denied a five-pointer to Malakai Fekitoa just moments earlier when the TMO ruled the centre had made a double-movement in forcing the ball. But sensing they had the upper hand, the Highlanders opted to go for the try from a penalty - referee Glen Jackson had been playing advantage - and halfback Aaron Smith switched back to the short side with a wonderful wide pass, allowing Naholo to stroll over from close range.
Having conceded three unanswered tries the Crusaders badly needed to stem the bleeding and they did so when Slade kicked a penalty on 56 minutes. The hosts had called on their star-studded bench a few minutes earlier with both Dan Carter and Richie McCaw coming on for a piece of the action.
The Crusaders began to enjoy a greater share of possession but they were unable to capitalise. Simple handling errors - including a shocking forward pass from halfback Andy Ellis - and some stubborn Highlanders defence repelled the Crusaders' raids as the game moved inside the final 10 minutes.
The hosts finally started to hold onto the ball and drew a penalty on 76 minutes which Slade converted to set up a grandstand finish; the Crusaders still trailing 25-20 as the crowd tried to will their side home. But the Highlanders survived to record a memorable victory, squaring the South Island ledger for 2015 in the process.