The last-placed Highlanders registered the highlight of a forgettable Super Rugby season by upsetting the Blues 38-28 in Dunedin.
Utter domination of the first half laid the foundation for the Highlanders’ second win of the season, in the process derailing the playoff hopes of the Blues, who have lost three straight games.
The wheels have fallen off the Blues, outplayed by the Crusaders and Brumbies in recent weeks before an abject performance which wasn’t reflected in the final score.
They picked up a bonus point when flanker Luke Braid scored a fourth try after the final hooter to ensure they remain in seventh place after round 16 but momentum isn’t on their side.
The Highlanders crossed for four tries of their own, inside the first 33 minutes.
In-form fullback Ben Smith bagged two while the others went to winger Hosea Gear and centre Tamati Ellison as the Highlanders’ possession-based expansive game that has let them down so often this season exposed the listless visitors.
Errors and ill-discipline forced the Blues to make 106 tackles in the first half to the Highlanders’ 18.
Down 29-0, a try on the stroke of halftime to Blues winger Waisake Naholo gave them a glimmer of hope but, despite tries to centre Rene Ranger and flanker Steven Luatua, they never came within range in the second spell as the home side knocked over three penalties. Five-eighth Colin Slade kicked 15 points.
The Highlanders, who lost by 11 points to the Blues in April, won their first game of the season a month ago when they beat the Sharks in Dunedin.
Three losses followed on a tour of South Africa and Australia before producing the sort of performance their All Blacks-laden side had promised before the season began.
Blues captain Ali Williams endured a running battle with referee Jonathan White, who bore the brunt of post-match criticism.
“We’re doing something really drastically wrong when it comes to the referees. I don’t know if it’s me or the team but it’s something we’ve got to look at,” Williams said.
There was concern for Blues halfback Piri Weepu, who took a blow to his head from an opponent’s knee in the 14th minute.
He lay prone on the ground and was taken off on a stretcher with his neck in a brace, putting his selection in doubt for the All Blacks squad to be named on Sunday.
In better news, veteran Blues hooker Keven Mealamu became the second player after Australian lock Nathan Sharpe to play 150 Super Rugby games when he came off the reserve bench in the second half.
