Richard Loe: Highlanders make job tough on themselves

Dan Carter. Photo / Getty Images

I am involved in a competition with some mates to pick the winners each week.

Last week I forgot to submit my picks on time, which meant I was given the default mode - all the away teams. I got five out of six, which is infinitely better than how I was travelling this week. After four games in the second round, I had only the Chiefs right.

I thought the Highlanders were going to roll the Blues but they have to learn to play for more than 40 minutes.

The Highlanders looked good in the first half when their lineout was strong and they scored two well-executed tries. Even after the Blues had fought their way back, I still thought the Highlanders had their chances to win it.

They have the makings of a reasonably competitive side but they have to break this pattern of pushing opponents but never beating them. There is possibly a lack of belief, although I think their biggest problem is they lack a bit of X-factor.

And by that I mean they lack the ability to pounce on opportunities. At this level, you have to take everything you can get and that means the execution of basic skills has to be perfect or the gap closes, or the defence recovers and the moment is gone.

A classic example of what the Highlanders lack came in the last play of the game when Fetu'u Vainikolo spilled an easy pass as the Blues were scrambling to cover.

I'm not picking on him, as on any other day he could just as easily catch everything, but it was symptomatic of what they have to fix - and quickly.

The Highlanders have lost their first two games, which puts the pressure on. Not only do you have to win your home games, but also those in your own country.

You need to target about nine or 10 wins to make the play-offs so the Highlanders will do it tough as they travel to South Africa now.

I don't hold the same fears for the Crusaders, despite the fact they took a real hammering in Brisbane. I would imagine, at least I'd like to think, they simply had a very bad night.

No one can believe we will see a Crusaders side drop the ball that many times again. It was so unlike them and let's also be fair to the Reds - they pushed the Waratahs close and probably should have beaten them and look a much better side than many believed they would be.

I heard their captain last week and it was obvious he was gutted to have lost that game, which is a good sign for them.

The Crusaders don't really have any superstars other than Dan Carter. The two Franks brothers are relatively inexperienced, as were their locks. Zac Guildford and Sean Maitland have a lot of talent and cut open any side but they are also fairly new to Super Rugby.

The Crusaders have Corey Flynn, Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Chris Jack not yet playing and they will be a different side when they have all those big guns back.