The good teams will be clinical in the key moments. Average ones will create those moments, but not be able to finish them.
That is where the Highlanders found themselves last week — nearly there, but not quite.
They created enough opportunities against a strong Crusaders side in Christchurch. They battled hard, but missed too many one-off tackles and the Crusaders pounced.
The second half had been a big improvement. But putting together a quality 80 minutes was required to beat those top teams.
Assistant coach Tony Brown said it was something the team was working on.
He felt the intensity of the game had caught the young side early, as it learned where it needed to be against the competition’s best teams.
That had shown after halftime.
The team was continuing to develop its game and he felt it was ‘‘not far away’’ from taking the next step.
‘‘I think all of their tries came from little lapses in concentration and things we could stop easily if we were a little bit more on,’’ Brown said.
‘‘We put them under enough pressure during the 80 minutes to score a couple of tries.
‘‘If we can cut out those soft errors allowing them getting points then we’re in the game.’’
There was a difference between saying that and doing it. However, it was something the side was progressing in.
Brown said it was important the team could identify key moments.
‘‘It’s just creating awareness for our guys, the pictures that they’re seeing... it’s just trying to execute in those moments. Basically helping each other be successful on the field, that’s around scanning and communicating where the space is.
‘‘Against the Crusaders we did some really good things. We’re not far away around being really clinical on attack.’’
Those were the key focuses for Friday’s game against the Rebels at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
There are still some injury concerns.
Paripari Parkinson has a ‘‘niggly ankle’’, while Josh Dickson was a bit ‘‘banged up’’ too.
Captain James Lentjes had been cleared of concussion after leaving the field for a head injury assessment on Friday.
Prop Jeff Thwaites comes back into contention for selection, having played 40 minutes in the curtain-raiser for the Bravehearts on Friday.