The Highlanders have crashed to a six-point loss after their scrum was dominated in the second-half against the Reds in Dunedin.
In a scrappy contest in front of 12,610 that was punctuated by handling errors, the Highlanders produced their worst performance of the season.
But their downfall was the scrum, which leaked five penalties after the break.
The Highlanders found themselves trailing 12-0 after just 10 minutes as the Reds fed off their mistakes.
Captain Timoci Tavatavanawai led the fightback on both sides of the ball.
First he surged over from close range for a trademark try, then he won yet another breakdown penalty with the Highlanders under defensive pressure.
Despite wearing the No. 11 on his back, Tavatavanawai popped up all over field and constantly attracted defenders.
The Highlanders followed his lead, lifting their physicality on defence, before big midfielder Tanielu Tele’a showed great footwork to score after a sustained period of pressure on the Reds’ line.
Speedster Caleb Tangitau had another try chalked off before halftime, but not before the TMO had spotted a deliberate knock-on in the build-up by Reds fullback Heremaia Murray, which was deemed a yellow card offence.
When Wallabies back Filipo Daugunu grabbed his second try of the game with about 10 minutes to go, with the Highlanders down to 14 men at that stage, there was no way back for the home side.
The Highlanders now face a tough two-week tour of Australia, where they will face the Brumbies in Canberra and the Western Force in Perth.
[Source: Stuff.co]
