The Highlanders found the recipe last night — a nice solid forward base, some starch in the middle and finished off with a super-duper dose of Fijian flair.
When replacement lock Joe Wheeler puts in a grubber kick to set up the last try, then you know it is your night.
The home team ran out a 57-14 winner at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin over a Stormers team which could not buy a trick all night. It was the biggest winning margin recorded by the side, surpassing by one point the 65-23 win over the Bulls in Invercargill in 1999.
The Highlanders led 31-7 at the break and though they did not have a lot of ball and territory in the second half they still managed to pass the 50-point mark for the second time this season.
The southern side’s attack has been stuck in second gear throughout the season but it was like a smooth-running Porsche last night, with Fijian wingers Patrick Osborne and Waisake Naholo to the fore.
They scored two tries each and it would be hard to to think of a better game Osborne has produced in the Highlanders jersey. He was lively throughout and was heavily involved. He has signalled he will not be back next year but any more efforts like this and his arm may have to be twisted.
The Highlanders were threatening all night in attack and always made metres over the advantage line.
And once the ball went wide the men with the large numbers on their backs roamed free.
Naholo is a sight to behold in full flight, and Ben Smith was also a constant threat in attack.
Holding it all together was halfback Aaron Smith. He is getting back to top form and that should put a smile on the face of every New Zealand rugby fan.
Up front, openside flanker Dillon Hunt lapped up the wide, open game while prop Daniel Lienert-Brown was strong in both attack and defence.
The Stormers were first to score, with No8 Nizaam Carr dotting down in the eighth minute.
The visiting side moved it to the right and a couple of poor tackles on Stormers skipper Siya Kolisi resulted in the ball ending up in Carr’s hand and he sprinted 20m to score.
The home team did not take long to reply, with Osborne scoring his first try.
The Highlanders made the most of an overlap and good hands by Hunt and Lienert-Brown gave Osborne the space and he went over.
The crowd did not have long to wait for some more try action when Osborne’s great mate, Naholo, went over.
Ben Smith made a scorching run and it then went wide to Naholo who ran a great line though the last line of the defence.
Then just past the 20-minute mark Osborne was in again. Du Preez put up a wobbly kick and the ball bounced right behind the Stormers line into the arms of Highlanders midfielder Rob Thompson. He moved the ball on and Osborne skipped away to score an easy five-pointer.
The Highlanders were well into their work and extended the score to 24-7 when No8 Liam Squire scored from a lineout drive 5m out.
The final try of the first half came courtesy of some Osborne magic.
It was started by gritty lock Alex Ainley who nabbed the loose ball. The ball was moved to the left and Osborne cut back in and got a delightful ball away to Thompson. He showed a clean pair of heels to scamper 30m and score under the posts.