Gareth Evans had played 80 minutes, scoffed some sushi and was ready to sit back and watch his team-mates in action on Saturday night.
Just over half an hour later he was out in the middle, taking on the Waratahs, and playing his part in a fine victory.
The loose forward made plenty of tackles in getting around the field and admitted afterwards he was pretty knackered.
''I'm pretty tired to be honest. I have never played as much rugby in a day,'' he said.
''I played 80 minutes up in Timaru for the development team and came back down, had a bit of dinner and was sitting in the stands, ready to watch the game.
''Then Jake [coach Jamie Joseph] came up to me and said `are you ready to go?' That was a bit of a shock. I ended up putting my boots on when the team huddle was going on.''
Evans (23) was hauled out of the stands after Shane Christie tweaked his niggling hamstring late in the warm-up.
Then, near the end of the first half, flanker John Hardie went down with a nasty ankle injury and Evans was on and firing.
''I didn't really have much time to think about it. You get the opportunity the adrenaline kicks in and takes you to another level.
''I was getting a bit tired in the last couple of minutes ... the boys were stoked to get over the line. It was all a bit of a blur to be honest. It all went very quickly.''
Evans had a successful day, winning in Timaru 25-24, and helping the Highlanders to a 26-19 victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
It was a gutsy effort from the home team, which recovered from a disappointing opening 20 minutes to come home well.
The 15 minutes either side of halftime was the best rugby played by the side this season.
That period was sparked by centre Malakai Fekitoa.
His play just before halftime changed the momentum of the game and gave the side the lead it would never relinquish.
He took the dangerous Israel Folau in a ball-and-all tackle and proceeded to strip the ball off him.
The All Black centre then passed it to flying Fijian winger Waisake Naholo who sprinted 60m to score.
The try was a game changer and straight after halftime the Highlanders put together a quick one-two punch.
Ben Smith ran a great angle off a ball from Lima Sopoaga and broke through a couple of ineffective tackles to score.
Three minutes later he was involved again in a sweeping move instigated by big winger Patrick Osborne.
Smith broke down the field and, after the home side moved the ball a couple of phases, Osborne got possession and broke through a ragged Waratahs defence to score the bonus-point try.
The Waratahs tried to fight back but it was going to be the Highlanders' night.
Best for the home team were Ben Smith and Fekitoa, while loose forwards Manu and Elliot Dixon stood tall.
The Highlanders had started slowly and were down 12-0 after 20 minutes.
Visiting prop Sekope Kepu then managed to get offside twice within a few seconds and was swiftly shown a yellow card by referee Craig Joubert.
From the resulting scrum, lock Tom Franklin went over to score his first try for the Highlanders, as the momentum shifted in the match.
Highlanders v Waratahs
Highlanders 26 Tom Franklin, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith, Patrick Osborne tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 con
Waratahs 19 Nick Phipps, Matt Carraro, Stephen Hoiles tries; Bernard Foley 2 con
Halftime: 14-12 Highlanders.
Crowd: 11,500
