What the heck happened across the ditch last night?
In a game in which logic seemed to go out the window, the Highlanders beat the Waratahs 30-26.
For an hour the Highlanders looked to be the only team that had turned up.
They were professional, clinical and, at times, almost robotic.
In contrast, the Waratahs were all at sea.
They could not scrummage, pass or kick.
They were nothing short of awful.
After 54 minutes, the Highlanders were up 30-0 - after leading 22-0 at the break - and with a shade more luck could have been ahead by twice as much.
But lo and behold, the Waratahs woke from their slumber and came steaming home.
They scored four tries within 16 minutes and, with seven minutes to go, the home side was down by just four points at 30-26.
Riding on the back of livewire flanker Michael Hooper and some questionable decisions from referee Nick Briant, the Waratahs looked as though they were going to time their run to perfection.
But the Highlanders soaked up the pressure in the final stages and hung on to win.
It was messy stuff from the Highlanders in the last 20 minutes but at least they won and the side has to be happy with that.
In the first hour, it was like taking candy from a baby.
The Highlanders were clinical and professional.
Their kicking game was spot on and regularly found space, putting the home team on the back foot.
When they had a sniff they took it.
Best for the Highlanders was No8 Liam Squire while locks Alex Ainley and Tom Franklin got through plenty of work.
First five-eighth Lima Sopoaga worked his magic well and Ben Smith was his usual assured self.
The match had plenty of movement in the opening stages with both sides looking to move the ball around.
The visiting side put the first points on the board after 10 minutes from its first foray near the Waratahs tryline.
The ball came from the lineout to second five-eighth Rob Thompson and he sliced through the defence like the proverbial knife through butter.
He slipped a nice ball to winger Ryan Tongia who skipped over the line to score.
Lima Sopoaga added the extras.
Six minutes later, Sopoaga added a penalty from right in front and the Highlanders were doing it easily.
The Highlanders were getting into the ascendancy and their scrum then demolished a Waratahs forward pack and gained a penalty.
Sopoaga could not convert the chance but it was looking ominous for the home team's scrum.
The Highlanders were on the front foot and it only got better for them just before the half hour mark.
Waratahs No 8 Wycliff Palu dropped the ball cold, hooker Liam Coltman - playing his 50th game - picked the ball up and fed Squire.
Squire took off and brushed off a couple of tacklers and went over beside the posts in a 40m run.
The tries just kept coming as the Waratahs were poor, coughing up ball and making some sloppy errors.
Ben Smith got the ball from a turnover and put through a kick into space.
Winger Matt Faddes kicked the ball on and flanker Dixon jumped on the ball to score the third try of the half for the Highlanders with three minutes to go in the first period.
Dixon scored his second try early in the second half when he claimed a high ball and srpinted 20m to score.
Super rugby
The scores
Highlanders 30
Elliot Dixon 2, Liam Squire, Ryan Tongia tries; Lima Sopoaga 2 con, pen, drop goal
Waratahs 26
Jed Holloway 3, Tom Robertson tries; Kurtley Beale 3 con
Halftime: 22-0C.
