A serious-looking injury to flanker John Hardie was about all the Highlanders took out a scratchy performance over the Barbarians in Invercargill last night.
The Highlanders, playing a different team in each half, started well, but then ran aground in the second half, eventually winning the match 40-19, in a game where there were plenty of errors.
Hardie left the field halfway through the second half, after an impressive hour, limping with an injured knee - the same one he had damaged against the Lions last month.
Although the Highlanders have some depth in the loose forwards, an injury to Hardie was not what they would have wanted from this game. He injured his knee in the same game last year.
It was a match which died in the second half, after the Highlanders led 26-19 at the break, and coach Jamie Joseph admitted a poor set piece from the Highlanders hampered the side's game.
''I was a but disappointed with our set-piece execution. The lineout was a bit messy which did not allow us to build a platform,'' he said.
''There were some nice broken play touches. I don't think we were clinical enough in that game and I guess you get that when a bunch of guys gets out there really ripping into us.''
Joseph said the match had put pressure on selection for the team to play the Chiefs next Friday night and that was what he wanted.
''I saw some of our guys out their hands up and really stand out ... we have been training for the last 10 or so days but it is not until you get into a game like that where you miss your combinations.''
He said the inaccuracy at set piece could have been put down to a lack of combination.
Joseph was about to take Hardie off but the Southland flanker injured his knee while making a tackle.
Despite the Hardie injury, Joseph felt the game was worthwhile.
''We needed a game. In terms of quality of the matches we have had in the last three years in this June break this has probably been the best.''
Playing on a puggy, soft surface, the Highlanders failed to score a try for the bulk of the second half as they struggled to get much continuity into their game.
Too many times players went for the gap, rather than move the ball on, and it was obvious to see how vital the missing All Blacks are to the franchise.
The Highlanders were on the scoreboard within two minutes of the start when midfield back Jason Emery went over after finding some space out wide.
Flanker Lee Allan helped himself to two tries in the first half, one from a charged-down kick, and he was also held up over the line attempting to get a third try.
Highlanders lock Joe Wheeler came on at halftime and, within 12 minutes, was given a yellow card for entering a ruck from the wrong side.
The Barbarians made a good first of things considering they had only come together 24 hours before kick-off.
They were rugged and competitive in the forwards - hooker Brayden Mitchell stood out - and the loose forwards, led by Gareth Evans, made sure the Highlanders could not get any quick ball going.
Rico Gear, at 36, rolled back the years a couple of times, and will be a force to be reckoned with should he decide to turn out for Poverty Bay in the Heartland Championship this year.
The match dragged in the second half and no points were scored for 33 minutes until left winger Jayden Spence completed a tidy effort by running off a nice Hayden Parker inside ball to score. Shaun Treeby scored in the last act of the game.
Three Highlanders who impressed
Scored two tries, got round the field and the loose forward showed he is more than ready to play at this level.
Ran hard every time he got the ball and rewarded with a try. Perhaps not the pace for the wing but a good footballer.
Got through plenty of work in his 40 minutes on the ground and popped up in the right places to set up rucks and disrupt the opposition
The scores: Highlanders v Barbarians
Highlanders 33
Lee Allan 2, Jason Emery, Phil Burleigh, Jayden Spence, Shaun Treeby tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con, Hayden Parker 2 con.
Barbarians 19
Rico Gear 2, Alex Hodgman tries; Jamie Verran con
Halftime: 26-19 Highlanders
Crowd: 1500
