If history has taught me anything it's that my body clock does not handle getting up early to watch games in the Republic.
This year is no different as I failed on both occasions to wake up in time to watch our two-week tour, something I regret now as I would have loved to see our comeback against the Cheetahs in full.
There was a lot hanging on the game against the Hurricanes, so much had been said in the media about it. Countless comparisons from last season have been made, were we destined to repeat losing our form? Injuries and suspensions would tell you that it seems to be heading that way. I was nervous, a feeling which I know was reciprocated by a majority of the Highlanders fan base.
Watching the first half of the game, those nerves started to disappear, where was the exhausted Highlanders pack that left for South Africa, we were controlling possession, our defence was solid and the Hurricanes back three (who have looked dangerous all season) didn't seem to have an
answer.
Scoring two tries to Chris Noakes and Adam Thomson, the southerners took a 14-9 lead into the break. Against his old side, stand-in captain Andrew Hore would have been happy with the start.
The Highlanders started the second half much the same way, dominating possession and resolute defence, giving the Hurricanes back three nothing to work with. A break from Phil Burleigh early in the second half almost resulted in a try (I was convinced until I saw the reverse angle), we earned three points from this play; however, this is where we began to lose our way and our lead, letting in a soft try almost immediately to Faifili Levave, Hurricanes taking the lead 19-17.
Making silly mistakes and letting the Hurricanes have some advantage, the tired pack that has been very present so far this season started to re-emerge. The Highlanders regained their lead with another penalty, a one point lead, a majority of our victories this season have come from our ability to hold on to a narrow lead.
Then 10 minutes from full time is where it all fell to pieces for the boys in blue, another soft try was let in, this time to Hurricanes wing Julian Savea. This try took not only the lead, but exposed a hole in the Highlanders defence and took the one factor the Highlanders still had going for them; their ability to clinch victory in the close ones.
The Highlanders don't have the easiest run to the playoffs, with the Bulls, Blues, Crusaders, Chiefs and Reds standing between us making the playoffs for the first time in a decade.
Not the welcome home the Highlanders had hoped for, but some improvements from the side that left for the Republic are enough to give them some hope at least. Are we destined to repeat last season? The fat lady hasn't stepped up to the microphone just yet, only time will tell . . .