The Highlanders notched their third win in four games to start the season, beating the Waratahs 26-19 at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.
It was a gutsy win by the home team, built on some fine tries by its outside backs but it has come at a cost.
Openside flanker Shane Christie aggravated his hamstring injury late in the warm-up on Saturday night and did not take the field.
He was replaced by John Hardie who did not see out the first half, dislocating his ankle when he landed awkwardly, and was stretchered off the field.
Prop Ross Geldenhuys was also forced off with a hand injury and his future is cloudy.
Joseph said the gutsy victory had been tempered by the injuries to players.
''In perspective, it is a great win for us as a team because they are a very good side. So we are happy with the five points,'' Joseph said.
''The down side of the game is we lost some players . . .''
The side had just notched its third win in as many weeks and sits fifth in the ladder, though it is early days.
''I'm really proud of the team ... We have got a lot of belief in our own side but we do not have a lot of superstars and we have to work really hard, and that is what we had to do today.
''Every year this competition gets tougher and every year teams are raising the bar. In our conference in New Zealand, the Crusaders, the Hurricanes, the Chiefs, us and the Blues, we are not really getting the confidence from the fans. If you compare us on paper to the rest of the teams, it is clear we are behind. But inside our team we do not feel that way.''
He felt his team was underrated.
The win on Saturday night involved a game plan of running the Waratahs round and tiring their big pack out.
''This game plan was to give them a little bit more ball than usual and try and move their big pack around. We did that really well in the second half and later stages of the first half.''
Winning turnovers was the key to the victory, and capitalising on them. The back three of Patrick Osborne, Waisake Naholo and Ben Smith all converted chances.
The Hurricanes will come south on Friday night and Joseph is wary of a side yet to be beaten.
''The Hurricanes are the form team of the competition. They showed last night [Friday] that they had enough smarts and ability to get out of a tight situation and win a match. They will come down with plenty of confidence and so they should.''
In other weekend results, the Rebels beat the Force 21-17, the Crusaders beat the Lions 34-6, the Brumbies blanked the Reds 29-0, the Chiefs beat the Stormers 28-19 and the Sharks defeated the Cheetahs 29-10.
