Highlanders win moments that count in physical game

Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon scores a try during his team's Super Rugby match against...
Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon scores a try during his team's Super Rugby match against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday night. Crusaders lock Scott Barrett is in the background.Photo: Gregor Richardson
Super Rugby is a brutal, physical sport.

But brain will always beat brawn in any contest.

The Highlanders did those special little things well enough on Saturday night to beat the Crusaders 25-17 at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

The Highlanders went in at halftime up 14-10 but copped a blow early in the second half, when winger Waisake Naholo was yellow-carded for a high shot on Crusaders loose forward Heiden Bedwell-Curtis.

But instead of going into its shell and just holding on for 10 minutes, the home team went on the front foot.

It was rewarded with a try to replacement loose forward Elliot Dixon.

Highlanders hooker Liam Coltman said the loss of the man could have been worse but it was about being confident in each other.

``When we got down to 14 players there at one stage and we did not concede a point, which was pretty good. The leaders said we just had to do our roles and stick to the basics and everything would be right,'' Coltman said.

``It was fast and physical and always is against New Zealand teams.''

The Highlanders had trailed early, to a classy try from Crusaders winger George Bridge, who found some space in a Highlanders backline though he had the advantage of some classic shadow blocking.

The Highlanders, though, came straight back and went route one, and Coltman went over, scoring just his third try in the Highlanders jersey, in his 74th game.

``The plan was to go up the middle and then spin it wide. You have to earn your right to go wide. Use the backs that we have got and forwards did a great job tonight with the set piece.''

The Highlanders recognised that the Crusaders were going up hard in line speed away from the ruck so went straight up the middle where the defence was thinner. That also led to a second try shortly afterwards to Lima Sopoaga.

Coltman said a solid set piece helped the game plan.

The big crowd of more than 21,000 also boosted the side

``The crowd tonight was unbelievable. St Paddy's Day and all that. They get in behind you. When the crowd gets behind you it picks you up.''

The Highlanders had lost those key moments to the Crusaders in three losses last year but through skill and execution managed to win them on Saturday night.

The game was in the balance when Crusaders replacement halfback Bryn Hall scored a converted try 15 minutes into the second half giving the Highlanders a narrow 19-17 lead.

But the Highlanders won the territory battle in those final minutes and Sopoaga converted two easy penalties.

He also missed a handy one with four minutes left - hitting the post - but by then the puff had gone out of the Crusaders.

Best for the Highlanders were hooker Coltman, lock Tom Franklin and Sopoaga.

The Highlanders looked the more dangerous side in the first half but did not have a lot of ball.

The game ebbed and flowed in the 10 minutes before the break. The Crusaders thought they had scored in the dying minutes of the half but after a look by the television match official at an earlier Tim Bateman knock-on led to a Jordan Taufua try being ruled out.

The Highlanders Bravehearts beat the Crusaders Knight 40-14 in the curtainraiser.

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