Highlanders v Crusaders: Five takeaways as Jamie Joseph ‘enhances his All Blacks chances’ while law changes have desired effect
Crusaders flanker Ethan Blackadder (inset) and Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph.
Following the Highlanders’ 25-23 triumph over the Crusaders in their Super Rugby Pacific clash at the Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday, Planet Rugby picks out five takeaways from the thrilling action.
The top line
The home side made an impressive start and after Cameron Millar opened their account with an early penalty, they extended their lead in the 15th minute courtesy of a well-taken try from Caleb Tangitau.
The Crusaders responded with a try from Noah Hotham shortly afterwards which was converted by Rivez Reihana and the visitors’ fly-half also succeeded with a penalty on the stroke of half-time which gave his side a 10-8 lead at the break.
The second half started brightly for the visitors when Reihana extended their lead via another penalty three minutes after the restart, but the hosts struck back shortly afterwards when veteran All Blacks prop Angus Ta’avao crashed over for a deserved try on his Highlanders debut.
Millar added the extras which saw his side regain the lead and in the 49th minute Jonah Lowe also crossed for a converted try which meant the hosts held a deserved 22-13 buffer.
The visitors needed a response and that came on the hour-mark when Will Jordan dotted down with Taha Kemara adding the extras and the Crusaders regained the lead in the 72nd minute when the replacement fly-half also succeeded with a penalty attempt.
That set up a thrilling finish and the Highlanders eventually clinched their victory when Millar held his nerve to slot a penalty in the 79th minute.
Jamie Joseph strengthens his case for All Blacks job
Although the Highlanders boss is viewed as the favourite to replace Scott Robertson as the All Blacks’ head coach, there was plenty of pressure on him ahead of this fixture as his side were the overwhelming underdogs against Super Rugby Pacific‘s defending champions.
This, after the Highlanders finished the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign at the bottom of the standings and they haven’t notched a victory in the competition since beating the Fijian Drua in a Round Nine clash last April.
However, despite being without the services of All Blacks lock Fabian Holland, who was one of their star performers from 2025, Joseph‘s troops looked competitive from the outset and were deserved winners in the end.
Joseph deserves plenty of credit for that as his team were confident on attack while they also impressed on defence and eventually outscored the Crusaders by three tries to two.
With the announcement of New Zealand’s new head coach said to be made within the next week, this fixture might have been Joseph’s last match in charge of the Dunedin-based outfit as he certainly enhanced his All Blacks chances.
And although we don’t know whether this result makes a difference in New Zealand Rugby’s decision on who becomes the new All Blacks head coach, Joseph has certainly strengthened his case to get that position.
Law changes have the desired effect
Ahead of this year’s competition, much was said and written about the changes to the laws which are designed to make for a better viewing experience with the overwhelming feedback being positive from players and fans in the build-up to the tournament.
The tweaks were designed to keep the game fast, positive and exciting with faster restarts, fewer stoppages and a better chance to play the game at a high tempo.
And while the opening half in Dunedin was a scrappy affair, highlighted by several unforced errors from both sides, the second half was a much better spectacle.
The Highlanders and Crusaders stayed true to their attacking roots and there was plenty of excitement throughout with the result in the balance until the game’s closing stages.
The flexibility around the 50/22 kicks as well as the changes regarding scrum resets, which were designed to be much less, with free-kicks replacing that had the desired effect as it resulted in more attacking opportunities and sped up the game as well.
It was the same for players being able to take quicker tap kicks and based on this encounter – especially in the second half when the match became much looser – it looks like the new law changes should make for a more entertaining spectacle as the tournament progresses.
Ethan Blackadder hits the ground running
Despite being one of the Crusaders’ best players during their triumphant 2025 Super Rugby Pacific campaign, Blackadder did not represent New Zealand last year as he was constantly overlooked by ex-All Blacks boss Robertson.
That snub has not affected openside flanker’s form, however, as he continued where he left off in 2025 with another outstanding all-round performance in this fixture.
From the outset, Blackadder was in the thick of the action as he took the fight to the Highlanders on attack and defence while he also made his presence felt in the lineouts where he was a valuable source of possession.
The 30-year-old was on the field for 72 minutes and emptied the tank during that period as he finished with 28 metres gained on attack from nine carries with one defender beaten and a team-high 17 tackles made.
Crusaders’ All Blacks contingent fall flat
The men from Christchurch came into this encounter brimming with confidence as they had 13 All Blacks in their matchday squad compared to the four in the Highlanders’ ranks.
That statistic had little effect on the end result though as apart from Blackadder’s impressive shift and an excellent cameo from Will Jordan off the replacements bench, few of their other All Blacks made a big impact on this match.
Scrum-half Noah Hotham looked dangerous during the opening half, and he scored a well-taken try while wingers Sevu Reece and Leicester Fainga’anuku also made some fine attacking runs but their efforts were not rewarded.
Fainga’anuku was also shifted to the forwards during the second half as he packed down on the flank but he had little influence on the game.
It was a similar story for the much vaunted All Blacks front-row of Codie Taylor, George Bower and Fletcher Newell, who all came on in the 51st minute while the likes of captain David Havili, centre partner Braydon Ennor and number eight Christian Lio-Willie hardly troubled the Highlanders defence.
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