One last dose of heartache in a season of near-misses has all but dumped the Melbourne Rebels from play-offs contention in Dunedin.
Three minutes into injury time, a ruck penalty against backrower Richard Hardwick decided the issue. Highlanders goalkicker Sam Gilbert potted the angled penalty goal for 20-17.
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Hardwick was one of the best on the field until that moment with his breakdown acumen, a dozen tackles, stout ball carries and his well-timed pick-and-go to finish a fine sequence for a try.
What did we learn from a Rebels heartbreaker?
1 WELCOME BACK MATT PHILIP
From the moment he soared to claim the opening kick-off, Matt Philip relished his first game since last October.
The Wallabies lock played 53 minutes in his return from a major knee injury. There were some rust-shedding ball-carries, eight tackles, a couple of lineout takes and some of that invisible strength for the Rebels scrum.
He would like to take back the knock-on in contact when just six metres out from the Highlanders line in the first half.
Philip will only get better in the next two games. Good to see him back.
2 PLAY-OFF PERMUTATIONS
The Highlanders ended the play-off hopes of one Australian team and can seriously dent those of another next Friday night.
The seventh-placed Queensland Reds (23 points) are next up under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The Highlanders (19) loom large and can put the Reds’ play-off position under siege by knocking them off.
The Rebels did provide a blueprint for the Reds. Hassling defence and the ball pressure of Fraser McReight and Liam Wright will always force Highlanders’ errors because they are nowhere near as clean in execution as the four far better Kiwi sides.
You have to have a crack in attack against the Highlanders too because they do have dodgy defensive moments.
For all the errors made by the Rebels, the Highlanders nearly weren't equipped to put them away.
3 SO MUCH GOOD, SO LITTLE TO SHOW FOR IT
There have been few seasons like this one from the Rebels.
Three wins is a very poor reflection of the quality of the team’s play and try-creating skills but maybe it talks deeper to the lessons for all rising sides…you have to learn how to close games when you have the chance.
This was typical. The Rebels held a 17-14 lead with 20 minutes to play.
They were too loose with ball control in the final 20 minutes with misfires by Andrew Kellaway, Lachie Anderson and others. Where were one or two smart kicks to put the Kiwis under pressure? A random early tackle yellow card on hooker Jordan Uelese was a killer too.
In the Reds-Blues match the previous night, an early tackle by a Blues player went unpoliced.
4 BIG TICK PLAYERS
There is so much to like about backrower Richard Hardwick, halfback Ryan Louwrens, centre Stacey Ili and winger Anderson.
Coach Kevin Foote singled out Louwrens as a key buy pre-season for his competitiveness and urging. He’s been a huge factor for the team.
Ili’s neat footwork at the line is elite. A step and offload created the Hardwick try.
Anderson just does so much work as a ball-carrier and his front-on tackle on All Black Shannon Frizell was one of the game’s best. He even came up with a key turnover with his hands in on the ball.
5 MIXED BAG FOR KELLAWAY AND HODGE
Kellaway’s superb trysaver six minutes from time should have counted for more. He turtled flanker James Lentjes and got a hand under the ball to prevent a certain try.
It was the highlight of a hot-and-cold game for the Wallaby who had several uncharacteristic handling blemishes.
Utility Reece Hodge filled in ably at flyhalf for the absent Carter Gordon. He challenged the line from the backfield several times, stayed involved, booted three-from-three and kicked soundly.
He wasn’t flashy but was solid in a tough assignment.
