The Highlanders never really looked likely against the Crusaders. The combinations were about as convincing as the Mana Party and the fat man's mob. The passes just did not stick, there were knock ons here and there, and for long periods of the game, the home side simply did not have the ball.
The Crusaders always looked favoured to win the game as their execution levels were well above what was shown by the Highlanders.
Flanker John Hardie said it was an intense game where the Highlanders struggled to get much continuity going.
''Our basic little errors cost us. We talked about those mini moments and how we had to win them. We lost it in contact a couple of times, did a couple of silly things, gave away some penalties,'' he said.
''But we showed at the end there that if we did the basics well we could come back into the game. We had a chance to win it but it was good to get the bonus point.
''They played well. They were a different team from last week, and we were expecting that and tried to prepare for that. We just did not get much ball at all, especially in the first half.''
Hardie said nothing could substitute for playing the game, even in pre season matches.
''After the first 40 minutes you came in and you knew you had played a lot of rugby with a lot of tackling. But we didn't get much ball in the first half. We had talked about playing at the other end of the field but we couldn't do that.''
Hardie's ability to nab the ball in the breakdown was negated by a physical Crusaders side and the attacking side having more leeway at the breakdown.
The Highlanders had started well with halfback Aaron Smith sniping over after 20 minutes. But the Crusaders then scored the next 20 points.
Young lock Scott Barrett managed to burrow over after he attacked the line, and right on halftime, winger Johnny McNicholl barged over to score. That gave the visitors a 20 6 lead at the break as they feasted on a mountain of possession and territory, with Colin Slade looking assured in the No 10 jersey.
The Highlanders had prop Ross Geldenhuys under the posts late in the first half but it was - correctly - ruled out for a forward pass. There were many forward passes in the game - an obvious reflection of an early season encounter.
The second half rather spluttered along until Malakai Fekitoa scored to give the Highlanders a sniff.
But they coughed up the ball too often, and wisely chose a penalty goal at the end to at least salvage a bonus point.
Best for the Highlanders were winger Waisake Naholo, No 8 Nasi Manu and lock Tom Franklin.
Slade played well for the Crusaders in his return to Dunedin. But it is uncanny how often his kicks hit the posts at the covered stadium. When he played for the Highlanders, he regularly hit the posts with goal kick attempts, and he did it twice on Saturday.
• The Highlanders and Crusaders development sides drew 19-19 at Pleasant Point on Saturday afternoon. The Highlanders side led 14-12 at halftime but could not maintain their lead in the second period.
Highlanders v Crusaders
The scores
Crusaders 26
Scott Barrett, Johnny McNicholl tries; Colin Slade 2 con, 4 pen
Highlanders 20
Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, 2 pen
Halftime: Crusaders 20-7
Crowd: 17,005
