In fact, if you had asked anyone who attended yesterday’s Super Rugby pre-season game between the two southern franchises they would probably have said it was a pretty good one.
Instead of lambs frolicking in the countryside, stars such as Waisake Naholo and Ben Smith were speeding across a perfectly presented pitch.
Over the fence, there were no black and white cows making their way to the milking shed; instead, a sea of blue and gold-clad rugby fans cheered proudly for their team.
The hours that went into the grooming of the paddock and the pitching of the tents were rewarded by the two sides putting on a captivating match.
The game was made sweeter for the southern crowd by the Highlanders’ 16-point winning margin.
Rugby traditionalists who prefer more well-known venues got a blast from the past during the match.
An incident late in the second half offered a throwback to Carisbrook’s heyday.A hay bale — rather than a couch — was set on fire on the terraces of Fred Booth Park, which sent smoke billowing across the field.