An optimist might cling to the fact they are only five points off a playoff spot, but that is more a reflection on both a generous playoff system and a congested second tier in the competition than the Highlanders’ suitability to be in the top six.
More relevant numbers are 36 and 33.
Those are the Highlanders’ losing margins over the past two weeks against the Chiefs and the Crusaders.
How wonderful they get to play both teams again this season.
Granted, they are far superior teams loaded with All Blacks — and they are clearly the two big dogs in Super Rugby this season, being tied on 37 points, eight clear of the pack — but these back-to-back losses have illustrated the tough task that lies ahead of master coach Jamie Joseph.
He reflected on the gap between his side and the best when he digested the 43-10 loss to the Crusaders on Saturday night.
"This is a pretty young team playing 10 or 11 All Blacks," Joseph said.
"What do people expect around a young team playing a quality side at the top of the table? I don’t know.
"Our players gritted their teeth and did their best against a really good team."
Joseph acknowledged he was frustrated to see the Highlanders botch some attacking opportunities in the first half as the Crusaders effectively killed the game off with a 21-0 lead.
It was obvious they needed to get better at turning half-chances into points — and the statistics reflected that.
The Highlanders edged the Crusaders in metres gained (478m to 440m), carries (193 to 105) and defenders beaten (37 to 18).
"I actually think the score ... it didn’t really reflect our performance.
"I’m disappointed for the players because they created a lot of opportunities to score in the first half, and we didn’t really take those opportunities.
"We were held up over the line a couple of times, there was the line open with nobody in front of it and we passed ... so those kind of opportunities against quality teams like the Crusaders have got to be taken.
"The guys are doing enough to get into the 22m first. When we get into the 22m, we’ve got to make sure we execute.
"Part of that is they defended really well, the Crusaders. And part of it is that we didn’t execute our part of it well.
"At this stage of this team’s life, that’s where the difference is — the ability to execute tough skills under pressure."
Joseph highlighted the efforts of world-class fullback Will Jordan, who scored two tries in the first 15 minutes and pretty much did everything right, as an example of the difference between the South Island rivals.
Highlanders star Fabian Holland should be back on his feet quickly.
The lock left the game and was replaced by Oliver Haig after just 11 minutes when Holland failed an HIA, but he passed stage two.
The Highlanders slip to 10th in the 11-team competition, tied on 17 points with the Blues but ranked below them on points difference.
There is a six-point buffer on the battling Fijian Drua, so the Highlanders will likely avoid the wooden spoon, but they really need to beat Moana Pasifika in Dunedin this Sunday before the daunting finish against the Hurricanes, Crusaders and Chiefs.
Moana Pasifika, led as usual by the peerless Ardie Savea, beat the Drua 34-15 in the Pacific derby at Albany on Saturday.
The Hurricanes became the first New Zealand side to win in Australia this season when they upset the Brumbies 35-29 in Canberra to leap to fifth in the standings.
