They will certainly need to play much better against Moana Pasifika on Sunday than they did in the 43-10 loss to the Crusaders last Saturday night.
"The intent and endeavour to try and score tries was there in spades," Joseph said yesterday.
"We weren’t smart enough, and we didn’t position well enough. It’s all very well saying that after the game, but we’ve just got to be able to do that in the match.
"I think our guys have reflected well ... and know exactly what they need to do. The key for us is to be able to put it out on the field."
It has been a rough few weeks for the Highlanders, who have lost six of their past seven games after a promising start to the season.
Joseph has seen it all before and said he was feeling "OK" as he looked at the standings and saw his team battling in 10th place.
"My job as the coach is to understand what the challenges for this team are.
"I get a lot of confidence when it gets to this part of the week, when we’ve named the team and we’ve had a couple of trainings, and we get a better picture around injuries.
"I feel disappointed for the players and the coaches because they’re an extremely hard-working team, but when you don’t get results, that plays a little bit on people’s confidence."
It might not be long before Highlanders supporters seek to move on from this season and turn their attention to building a roster for the next.
The club remains hamstrung as there is virtually no mechanism for talent equalisation in Super Rugby, and Joseph will again need to get creative as he looks for some bargain buys and overlooked — or young — contenders.
"From when I coached the Highlanders last time, what’s changed is there is Moana Pasifika, there’s the Drua, there are Australian teams grabbing a lot of our players, and players are leaving earlier to the likes of Japan.
"What that does is put a squeeze on teams like the Highlanders. We’re down in the bottom of the South Island, we’re a small catchment area for players, and generally we’ve got to get younger players and develop them."
The Highlanders have a brutal finish to the season, including three straight against New Zealand sides, so defeat to Moana Pasifika would be the death of their faint playoff prospects.
Their clash in round three was an odd one as the Highlanders were completely dominant and built a handy lead before collapsing then clinging on to a 31-29 win.
"They’ve slightly changed their game since the last time we played," Joseph said.
"That match was quite a sticky game in the end. We lost our two first fives in the space of about five minutes. The game unravelled for us but we were able to hang on.
"Since that time, they’ve got a couple of new players, and obviously a lot of inspiration provided by Ardie Savea, so they’ve turned into a different rugby team and they’ll be a massive challenge for us."
• Highlanders co-captain Hugh Renton will be back on deck to play Moana Pasifika this weekend.
Renton has been named at No 8, replacing youngster Will Stodart, for the must-win game in Dunedin on Sunday afternoon.
It has been a stop-start season for Renton, who has battled a niggling groin injury and played just four of his side’s 10 games.
Oliver Haig replaces workhorse Mitch Dunshea at lock in the only other change to the pack that started in the heavy loss to the Crusaders.
Nathan Hastie is back for a ninth start in his breakthrough season, Timoci Tavatavanawai returns to second five from the wing, and Sam Gilbert starts on the right wing.
Rohan Wingham is on the bench and the young prop will be eager to see his first action of the season after making three substitute appearances last year.
First five Taine Robinson is also back in the reserves for the first time in nearly a month after starting seven of the first eight games.
Star winger Caleb Tangitau remains unavailable for selection as he tries to get on top of his groin injury.
Moana Pasifika have made just two changes to the team that beat the Fijian Drua.
Exciting winger Kyren Taumoefolau returns to the starting XV, while former Southland prop Chris Apoua starts at tighthead.
Former Rebels and Wallabies prop Pone Fa’amausili finally gets an opportunity to make his Moana Pasifika debut off the bench.
Landers v Moana Pasifika
The teams
Highlanders: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Sam Gilbert, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-captain), Jonah Lowe, Cameron Millar, Nathan Hastie, Hugh Renton (co-captain), Sean Withy, TK Howden, Oliver Haig, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma’u, Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Rohan Wingham, Mitch Dunshea, Veveni Lasaqa, Folau Fakatava, Taine Robinson, Jake Te Hiwi.
Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tevita Ofa, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Danny Toala, Kyren Taumoefolau, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Jonathan Taumateine, Semisi Tupou-Ta’eiloa, Ardie Savea (captain), Miracle Faiilagi, Samuel Slade, Tom Savage, Chris Apoua, Millenium Sanerivi, Tito Tuipulotu. Reserves: Tomasi Maka, Monu Moli, Pone Fa’amausili, Ofa Tauatevalu, Sione Havili Talitui, Melani Matavao, Julian Savea, Patrick Pellegrini.
