The Highlanders have managed the almost impossible by banking a win at Eden Park over the woeful Blues and keeping the Gordon Hunter memorial trophy in Dunedin.
It was a win the Highlanders needed to keep in the playoff race. Banking four tries they managed to take the win 27 - 20.
It seems that the All Blacks camp done wonders for everyone involved as the boys that attended had outstanding games.
Hosea Gear grabbed a double, Ellison scored one and so to did Adam Thomson. Ben Smith was at his attacking best sticking his hand up for the starting spot in the AB's with a handful of line-breaks and contributing to two of the four tries.
You could argue that Pat Lam had waved the white flag before kick-off by naming three very experienced All Blacks on the bench. Nonu, Weepu and Williams with 187 test caps between them would have hindered the Blues by starting on the bench. Not that I am complaining.
Their experience showed when they were finally injected into the game mid way through the second half.
Ma'a Nonu's running game was dangerous, and the Highlanders midfield struggled to contain him. Weepu was faster than normal around the ruck and Ali Williams leadership showed. Too little to late though. At this stage the Highlanders were well out in front 27 - 6.
The Blues managed a late charge home with tries to another All Black certainty Tony Woodcock and Tevita Mailau. Woodcock's try was helped along by Highlanders midfielder Phil Burleigh being sin binned for a professional foul at the bottom of a ruck, saving another try.
Of the four tries the Highlanders scored, three of them were from long range, Tamati Ellison grabbing the first of the night. Ellison put through a long range kick which Ben Smith raced the Blues fullback Hadleigh Parkes for.
Smith won the race, but was unable to collect the ball as it popped up for Parkes. The tackle was made and the Blues 'guard dogs' let the ball spill out of the ruck into the in goal, Ellison simply planted the ball, looked at the referee and claimed a try.
The credit for Hosea Gear's first try should be given to Kurt Baker. The winger found himself through a hole thanks to a fine ball from Phil Burleigh, he put on the after burners and quickly made his way to the try line. Unfortunately for Baker he was pipped at the line, but he managed a miracle ball back inside over the heads of two Blues players to Gear.
Gear's second was set up by the brilliant Ben Smith. He carved through the Blues line untouched, as if he was dowsed in oil. Smith like Baker earlier did all the hard work making about 50m but mowed down at the line, but again managed to pass it inside to Gear for his double.
The fourth try for the Highlanders was a lot easier for the try scorer. Adam 'Seagull' Thomson crossed for his 5th try of the season (33rd if you count training tries...so I am told) after a Blues defensive line out went horribly wrong...for the Blues. James Parsons went long, straight into the arms of Thomson who dove across the line almost in disbelief.
It doesn't get any easier for the Highlanders now. This weekend they face off against southern rivals the Crusaders.
Back to full strength and in front of a home crowd, the Crusaders will be very hard to stay away from at the TAB, although in the last few fixtures the Highlanders have had the wood over them.
With three more games to play before the bye in the final week and then the semi finals, this is the make or break game of the season.
The Hurricanes and Reds are nipping at their heels only four points back. A slip up now could be costly. With the Sharks one point ahead and the Crusaders two ahead, a win this weekend would help the Landers a great deal and give a massive confidence boost heading into the test break.
Let's all cross the fingers and hope on Friday night the Highlanders can get up in Christchurch and give the Crusaders a shake up.
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