KEY POINTS:
SUPER 14
Crusaders 14
Highlanders 26
Make a list, in order, of the teams most likely to beat the Crusaders.
The Highlanders would be somewhere near the bottom, which is why this Super 14 has proven to be a far more riveting competition than it is given
credit.
Against all the odds, with no inkling that something special was brewing, the Highlanders achieved what many thought was virtually impossible - they beat the Crusaders.
And not only that, they beat them well, which means that their two wins this season have come against the bottom side and top side. Crazy stuff.
More importantly for those teams with an interest in the next two weeks, the Highlanders exposed some frailties in the championship favourites.
Presumably the Crusaders being the Crusaders, they will dust themselves off, regroup and come back with a vengeance this weekend.
But maybe not. There have been signs in recent weeks that all is not well with the Crusaders. They were outclassed by the Chiefs, then seriously challenged by the Blues, before scraping past the Sharks and Reds.
It could be they are holding something in reserve - keeping a little spice for the knock-out rounds.
If they are, they hid it well last night. They appeared to be giving it everything, maybe even too much as there was a clumsiness in execution that usually only comes when a team is trying too hard.
But really, they lost because the Highlanders had their number. Craig Newby, in his last game, was the outstanding loose forward and the Highlanders backs, without a shining star, passed and ran to good effect and used simple skills to go a long way.
It helped that Toby Morland at halfback decided he might as well make the most of his opportunity.
What the Highlanders have done is sent hope to those three sides who finally make it into the semi-finals.
They turned up with respect but not fear, played their game, rode their luck and grew in belief as the clock and scoreboard ticked on.
It just didn't seem remotely likely that the Highlanders could get anywhere near a side that would be looking to up the intensity ahead of the playoffs. So it was with open-mouthed disbelief that the AMI faithful had to watch their local rivals race to a 23-14 half-time lead that could have, in fact, been bigger.
In a 10-minute spell leading into the break the Highlanders were on fire. Two tries came in quick succession and if Fetu'u Vainikolo had kept his kick ahead in the field of play after he gathered Toby Morland's clever chip out of defence, the Highlanders could have secured the bonus point before the break and been almost out of sight.
There was always a feeling that without getting that fourth try, they were vulnerable; that the Crusaders would stop mucking about, crank up the pressure and get on with running up a cricket score.
By 60 minutes, though, there was no sign of the Highlanders cracking and when Mike Delany nudged his side out with a penalty that could just as easily have been a penalty try, the game was safe.
In many ways, Ali Williams epitomised the Crusaders' performance. He was distracted and loose, more intent on trying to intimidate the Highlanders pack. When he should have been in the thick of the ruck, he was fringing.
It wasn't his finest performance and no question, coach Robbie Deans will have let it be known that this week, there will be no repeat.
It will be back to head down and bum up.
Crusaders 14 (C. Flynn try; D. Carter 3 pens) Highlanders 26 (P. Williams, T. Morland, A. Thomson tries; M. Delany 3 pens, con).
