The Highlanders simply ran out of juice in the second half against the Lions in Johannesburg. They led 20-3 at the break but could not withstand the inevitable fightback from the home team.
The lungs for the Highlanders appeared to be bursting in the final quarter of the match as the Lions rolled into the lead on the back of their tough forward pack.
The Highlanders had looked good in the first half, scoring a couple of quality tries, but the second half was a totally different story as the long flight and playing at altitude appeared to take toll.
It did not help that the Lions conceded just three penalties in the match, while the Highlanders were in trouble at the set piece all afternoon.
The Highlanders scrum was in reverse gear for most of the match and as the game went on, the home team took more advantage of that, picking up penalties at just the right time.
Bringing on inside backs Elton Jantjies and Faffie de Klerk early in the second half was the catalyst for the Lions' comeback. They sparked the home team as the Highlanders started to wilt.
The Lions went ahead in the final quarter of the match with a couple of Lentjies penalties.
The Highlanders attacked in the final minute but conceded a penalty for holding on in the ruck to kill off any dreams of at least a draw.
It had all looked so promising early on at a mostly empty Ellis Park.
Both sides had taken a while to get going in the opening half and rushed things at times. The first quarter of the game rather drifted along as the teams traded penalties.
Just past the half hour mark, the Highlanders scored the first try. They ran the ball up three times off a lineout and halfback Aaron Smith went back the other way. The Highlanders had the numbers and flanker Gareth Evans went over in the corner.
Then, right on the stroke of halftime, big centre Malakai Fekitoa ran 70m to score.
The Lions were attacking but the Highlanders managed to nab a turnover. The ball went to Fekitoa and he just tore straight down the middle of the field to score.
Fekitoa looked lively all afternoon but, like many others, faded out of the game in the second half.
Lock Tom Franklin got through plenty of work, as did hooker Liam Coltman. Captain Nasi Manu ran the ball up hard but is probably due for a rest.
Aaron Smith was his usual tidy self at halfback and was somewhat unlucky to have a try ruled out in the opening minutes. He darted over the line but was called back because winger Patrick Osborne was ruled to have pulled back a defender, which was debatable.
The Highlanders at least took a bonus point from the game. They also kicked two drop goals - a rarity for a New Zealand side in Super rugby. Both came when the side had advantage from penalty infringements.
Super rugby
The scores
Lions 28
Jaco Kriel, Courtnall Skosan, Harold Voster tries; Elton Jantjies 2 con, 2 pen, Marnitz Boshoff pen
Highlanders 23
Gareth Evans, Malakai Fekitoa tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, pen, drop goal, Ben Smith drop goal.
Halftime: Highlanders 20-3.
