Highlanders v Waratahs: Jamie Joseph’s side survive Waratahs’ comeback to win in Dunedin

Highlanders 31

Waratahs 26

The Highlanders’ season is not dead yet.

With a 31-26 win over the Waratahs in Dunedin, Jamie Joseph’s side have stayed in touch with the top six as they head into a run of local derbies to end their campaign.

The Highlanders will play the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend before a round-15 clash with the Hurricanes in Wellington. With a bye in the last round of the regular season, the Highlanders’ campaign will either end a week earlier than anyone else, or they will have an extra week to prepare for the playoffs.

And as the race for playoff spots heats up, Highlanders fans might feel like their side could have come away with more against the Waratahs.

The hosts made a hot start to the contest. Getting their backline involved early, the Highlanders ran out to a 28-7 lead at halftime.

Right wing Caleb Tangitau was heavily involved in that first-half frenzy, beating defenders at will and showing his ability to shed tacklers. It was Tangitau beating a defender that opened up space for him to put left wing Jonah Lowe over for the game’s first try six minutes in.

Tangitau then stormed through some soft defending for a try of his own five minutes later.

First five-eighths Cameron Millar, arguably the best goal-kicking No 10 in the competition, showed his playmaking ability with a beautiful long ball to Lowe out wide, before the winger got an equally nice offload away to fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens for a try.

Leading 21-0 after 20 minutes, the Highlanders gave the Waratahs a way back into the contest when midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai was sinbinned for a cynical foul at the breakdown.

The visitors struck through right wing Andrew Kellaway soon after, but the Highlanders still looked the more dangerous of the two sides.

The hosts extended their lead five minutes before the break with a second to Lowe, who was first to the ball after Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens saw space out wide and threw an offload out to the empty pasture for his winger to race on to.

But for a long time, that was where their scoring stopped.

The Waratahs fought their way back into the contest through the middle stages and the Highlanders had to back their defence to keep the visitors at bay.

They were, however, strong with their tackles – making more than 200 and missing about 20, while they also secured seven turnovers.

A red card to midfielder Jona Nareki in the 58th minute for a high shot on replacement prop Jack Barrett didn’t make life easier for the hosts, and the Waratahs took advantage of their advantage to put pressure on the Highlanders’ defensive line.

Clem Halaholo and Sid Harvey scored tries inside the final 10 minutes to close the gap to two – after replacement prop Apolosi Ranawai scored early in the half – but a late Millar penalty sealed the win for the Highlanders.

Highlanders 31 (Jonah Lowe 2, Caleb Tangitau, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens tries; Cameron Millar 4 cons, pen)

Waratahs 26 (Andrew Kellaway, Apolosi Ranawai, Clem Halaholo tries; Sid Harvey 3 cons)

HT: 28-7