Wynne Gray: The grapes were very sour in Sydney

Jacques Potgieter of the Waratahs receives a yellow card during the Super Rugby Semi Final match between the Waratahs and the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images.

Five tries to one - it was a clattering margin of supremacy for the Highlanders who made the Waratahs look second-rate on their own dung heap.

They were equally inept in the commentary with the sort of drivel Phil Kearns delivered about the referee having a "shocking" game.

The grapes were very sour in Sydney as the visitors' hillbilly forwards soaked up all the hometown posturing, turned them over and then rattled to the winning post.

A capacity Sydney Football Stadium crowd was as flummoxed as the Tahs while the underdogs and their coaches pulled off the heist of the series to create a 35-17 triumph.

The Tahs were ready. A number of players and coach Michael Cheika were leaving and they were well-primed after watching the Highlanders see off the Chiefs in last week's playoff.

The penalty try to the Highlanders was crucial in the 57th minute but it's those moments which swing big matches and the high shot from Jacques Potgeiter on Patrick Osborne, stopped his momentum centimetres from the chalk.

Visiting referee and local television match official George Ayoub took a dispassionate line and concurred; yellow card and penalty try.

Kearns and his sidekick Rod Kafer then lost their objectivity, a failing which is sadly repeated by some New Zealand sideline pundits who confuse passion and fairness.
This semifinal was on the edge for ages.

Joubert warned the Highlanders the next offence would go to the bin as they soaked up some early and rare second half heat and conceded the lead again.

Time for some magic so Waisake Naholo jet-shoed to another superb try from nowhere, Osborne instigated the penalty try and the Highlanders were in overdrive, the Tahs in meltdown.

Brilliant. There's nothing like Aussie angst. Most of the headaches are for Cheika and what he can do to find the right mix of player and formula for the Wallabies while the Highlanders trundle through to a final against the Hurricanes at the CakeTin.

More no-names against the stars; five in the All Black squad against a dozen, neither side with a title in the 20 year history of the series, both with a runners-up badge.
The outcome is uncertain but one thing is apparent.

The Canes will continue their extensive ball movement and back their burgeoning tight five to make room for the expression while the Highlanders will bring variety. In Sydney they shifted their larger rivals around with kicks and strong defence until they attacked from about 40m with everything.

Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoga and Ben Smith kick to attack or retrieve possession while the venom of Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne lurks. They close the deals.

However it's those men in jerseys 1-8 who are mostly castoffs, draft picks or local men who have laid down the markers for this Highlanders ride and given the nation feel-good reactions most weekends.