ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire rates the Highlanders after their narrow loss to the Crusaders in Dunedin on Saturday.
Ben Smith 7.5/10: Was dangerous running at the line and put up a few good bombs. Did well to set up Patrick Osborne for the second try and was tidy in what he did.
Richard Buckman 7/10: Pretty solid on defence, making eight tackles, snaffled a couple of turnovers and earned a breakdown penalty which led to a Highlanders try. Fairly tidy and did well enough with ball in hand.
Malakai Fekitoa 9/10: Keeps getting better and better, was simply a beast on attack, wreaking havoc by busting through tackles and providing the spark. Made two key breaks in the lead-up to the third try before going on to score it.
Shaun Treeby 6/10: Another who was solid, made his tackles and did his job by getting Fekitoa, Smith and Osborne into the game, while also being good crashing the ball.
Patrick Osborne 7.5/10: Was particularly good in the first half, making a handful of runs and beating a handful of defenders. Still had to beat two men to score his try and was half a millimetre off being the hero at the end.
Lima Sopoaga 6/10: Not quite at his best with the boot, but still provided some good ball for his backs and had to make quite a few tackles more than he normally would.
Aaron Smith 7/10: Passed well and did a good job of applying pressure to Andy Ellis. Generally was good with his box kicks having to clear under pressure and directed play well in the sequence at the end.
Nasi Manu 6.5/10: Strong defensively and was a good option at lineout time, although did not see as much ball to run with on attack.
Shane Christie 7/10: Made a lot of tackles once again, 15 this week, while also linking well and making some nice runs with the ball.
Elliot Dixon 7/10: Did a lot of work, making tackles and chasing the ball well, carried well when he got his chances too.
Joe Wheeler 6/10: Another hard worker, was involved in the defensive mishaps which led to the first two Crusaders tries, but neither were really his fault as the missed tackles came as a result of not numbering up right and him having to cover.
Jarrad Hoeata 7.5/10: Was playing well until being forced to leave the park at half time. Very prominent on defence, making a lot of tackles in the initial onslaught from the Crusaders and added good physicality.
Chris King 6.5/10: Part of a well-functioning scrum that got better as the game progressed, while also being solid in his work around the park.
Ged Robinson 7/10: Another big tackler, getting extremely involved in the first half and threw well into the lineout.
Kane Hames 8/10: Had a couple of huge efforts at scrum time, while also being the leading Highlanders tackler and the key break in the lead up to the fourth try.
Sam Anderson-Heather 5.5/10: Added impact around the field and was very good in what he did on debut; however, he had a couple of bad lineout throws which he loses marks for.
Ma'afu Fia 7/10: Carried on his good work from last week, showing a high work rate and making an impact in the contact situations, while also scrumming well.
Tom Franklin 7/10: Carried the ball well, making a few of breaks in the open and made a couple of tackles too.
Gareth Evans 6.5/10: Applied great pressure at a crucial lineout close to the end of the game, while also making some good metres with ball in hand.
Hayden Parker 6.5/10: Put in a lovely kick late in the game to gain good field position when it was needed and was tidy otherwise. Made his tackles and got the ball through his hands well.
Phil Burleigh 7.5/10: Made a big impact upon his introduction, a nice break, a good offload and a well-placed grubber in behind. Was very influential in the comeback late in the game.