The Highlanders' Aaron Smith looks for a runner
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Features: Ben Smith acknowledges patience is his virtue

Matches: Highlanders 48 - 15 Sharks

The Highlanders have bounced back from last week's disappointing showing against the Brumbies in style, recording a thumping victory over the struggling Sharks in Dunedin.

The hosts piled on seven tries in easily their finest attacking effort of the season, the 48-15 result ensuring they keep pace with the in-form Hurricanes and Chiefs in a tight New Zealand conference. The win was especially important for the Highlanders as they have just one more game at home this season, a potentially vital local derby with the Chiefs in Invercargill in Round 16.

The writing was on the wall early as the Highlanders landed a blow after just three minutes. Powerful midfield runs from wingers Waisake Naholo and Patrick Osborne got the hosts on the front foot before the ball was quickly shifted to back-rower Gareth Evans who brushed aside a feeble attempted tackle for the game's first five-pointer.

The Highlanders continued to look dangerous, particularly on the counter-attack, and it was All Blacks full-back Ben Smith who created the second chance of the match. The Highlanders custodian, who sat out last week's loss to the Brumbies alongside fellow All Blacks Aaron Smith and Malakai Fekitoa, tore through the Sharks in midfield to put Osborne away; but the winger ignored his support, stepped back inside and knocked on in the tackle. The hosts maintained their field position however and eventually fly-half Lima Sopoaga kicked a penalty to set up a 10-0 lead on 21 minutes.

The visitors got themselves on the board through a penalty a short while later and they would soon be on level terms after capitalising on a period of territory and possession. Willem Alberts and Bismarck du Plessis both went close as the visitors threw themselves at the Highlanders and the pressure eventually told as Springboks prop Beast Mtawarira crashed over from close range. Fred Zeilinga added the extras to lock it up at 10-all after 32 minutes.

The Highlanders needed a response and in came in the form of the Smiths, both Aaron and Ben. The All Blacks duo combined from a quick tap taken by the half-back and, after Ben Smith was brought down on the visitors' 22, Sopoaga dropped a perfect cross-kick over to winger Waisake Naholo who managed to dot down in the corner for a superb team-try.

They wouldn't have to wait long for a third five-pointer either. Again it was Aaron Smith who set the Highlanders on their way up-field, before Sopoaga again sent the ball wide, this time via a pass to Osborne; the big winger able to reach out and slam the ball down despite being tackled just short of the line. Sopoaga added the extras to send the hosts into the break at 21-10 to the good.

The half-time interval couldn't have come at a better time for the visitors and they almost made the perfect start upon the resumption, largely thanks to a powerful rolling maul. The Sharks marched the Highlanders back 20 metres on a lineout drive only for hooker Bismarck du Plessis and then lock Stephan Lewis to be held up over the line; the pressure eventually released when the Highlanders cleared through a scrum penalty.

The Sharks would regret their inability to find the line 15 minutes later when the Highlanders all but put the game away through Mark Reddish. The hosts had bombed a golden opportunity just moments earlier when the usually mistake-free Aaron Smith threw a poor pass metres from the line. But it wouldn't matter as a loose Sharks lineout rolled into the in-goal area; Reddish showing far more commitment than two Sharks players to touch down on the bouncing ball.

If there was any lingering doubt over the result it was put to soon erased when the Highlanders powered up field from the kick-off for Aaron Smith to collect the spoils. Richard Buckman powered through what can only be described as woeful Sharks defence; the centre then off-loading to Smith under pressure for the hosts' fifth five-pointer. Sopoaga was unable to land the extras for the first time of the evening but it mattered little with the score at 36-10.

And it only got better from there as the Highlanders continued to punish the visitors at every opportunity; a wonderful team sequence saw the Highlanders sweep up-field from a turnover for replacement Brendon Edmonds to touch down under the cross-bar.

Bismarck du Plessis scored a consolation try for the visitors inside the final 10 minutes but it was a rare bright spot on an otherwise disastrous first outing on tour. The Highlanders responded with one final blow of their own, Elliot Dixon crossing two minutes from time to round out the 48-15 win.