Mosgiel woman Barbara Harliwich hung jerseys, flew flags and set up mannequins decked out in Highlanders colours to support the team and get her family into the spirit of the occasion.
''This is not for me; it's for the husband and boys.
''They just don't know about it yet,'' she said.
Her husband, Steve, was a big fan and Mrs Harliwich wanted to surprise him and son Jackson (21) when they got home from work last Friday.
''My husband's into it,'' she said.
''He would have loved to have gone to the game.''
Mrs Harliwich said she was a rugby fan in general.
She turned their lounge into ''a bit of a stadium'' where they watched the match with friends.