Crusaders stun Highlanders

It will be remembered by Highlanders fans as another one that got away.

The Crusaders, like thieves in the night, stormed back from a 27-6 deficit to win 30-27 in Dunedin on Saturday night.

Crusaders wing Seta Tamanivalu snatched the win, which seemed most unlikely even 15 minutes earlier, when he streaked down the right-hand sideline and touched down with a couple of minutes to play.

His try followed late five-pointers to David Havili and Whetu Douglas, with Douglas' and Tamanivalu's winner coming inside the final five minutes, and after the Highlanders had been reduced to 14 men on the back of a Malakai Fekitoa yellow card. 

"It was amazing to come down here and do that in front of a massive, noisy, crowd," Tamanivalu said. "The boys were working hard and I pretty much just put it down." 

His try - the former Chief centre's second this season for the Crusaders - left Highlanders fans stunned after the final whistle, particularly as they had jumped out to a 21-point lead early in the second half, and led 17-6 at halftime. 

But the Crusaders, who were toothless on attack for the first 60 minutes, hit back in style to improve their record to two wins from as many games under new coach Scott Robertson.

"I know it's a big call so early in the year to say it, but our fitness level and belief was outstanding, and it was some finish, wasn't it?" Robertson said.

He credited his team's ability to bounce back from the hefty deficit and the fact his team conceded three tries at set-piece time.

"No, it's not," when it was put to him conceding set piece tries wasn't Crusader like. 

Match Stats — Team Stats

"But it's Crusader like to fight back and show some real belief and rectify things," he said.

On the other side of the ledger, the Highlanders are winless after two home games and must now hit the road for away games against the Blues and Hurricanes. 

Highlanders coach Tony Brown said Fekitoa's yellow card, which was dished out after Havili fell over Fekitoa while contesting a high ball, was a "massive" moment in the game.

"Then the All Black [like] forward pack took over and just started to dominate us up front. We were probably just hanging on there at the end," Brown said. 

Coming off a disjointed loss to the Chiefs to start the season, the Dunedin-based franchise started well. 

Winger Waisake Naholo bagged a double and loose forward Gareth Evans added another to rock the visitors under the roof. 

Both Naholo's involved deft kicks - one each from Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga.

Much like last year's game at the same venue, the Crusaders dominated early proceedings but couldn't turn the possession and territory into tries.

Instead, it was the Highlanders, held without a try in their first game, who got things clicking.  

It took 106 minutes of rugby, but their first try of the season - scored by replacement flanker Evans - was worth the wait. 

Setup with a lineout 22m out, hooker Liam Coltman delivered a peach of a long throw to Naholo, who stepped off his left-leg and fed Evans inside to crash over. 

Naholo went from provider to scorer 10 minutes later, when he latched on to a perfect Smith kick in behind the napping Crusaders. 

The Highlanders winger comfortably gassed Tamanivalu, who was left wondering where on earth fullback Havili had gone.

Naholo's second, who put his side up 27-6 early in the second half, was arguably better.

Fekitoa got on the end of a perfect Sopoaga chip, before flicking an inside ball to his rampaging winger. 

However, that was as good as it got after a monster scrum under the sticks resulted in referee Paul Williams awarding the visitors a penalty try to pull to within 27-13. 

The Crusaders' All Black laden pack got rolling and swung the game's momentum. It led to Havili adding five more points after Tamanivalu slipped him a pass out wide to kick the comeback into top gear. 

Already riddled with injuries, the Highlanders lost reserve hooker Adrian Smith during the warm up and flanker James Lentjes (dislocated elbow) inside the first minute.

Plenty of Crusaders fans travelled south for the 30th game between the teams, and a red and black flag marking the boundary between the two franchises on the Waitaki River bridge this week was further proof the rivalry still captures the fans' attention. 

The teams will meet again on June 3, when the Highlanders travel to Christchurch for an early afternoon game. 

Crusaders 30 (Penalty try, David Havili, Whetu Douglas, Seta Tamanivalu, Mitch Hunt 2 pen, Marty McKenzie 1 con) Highlanders 27 (Gareth Evans, Waisake Naholo 2 tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con, 2 pen) HT: 6-17

Photo: Dianne Manson/ Getty Images (Crusaders winger Seta Tamanivalu is tackled by Elliot Dixon, left, and Tom Franklin).