You can have all the slickest moves in the world but the game still comes back to the core roles.
The Highlanders though let themselves down in too many areas, and errors at just the wrong time cost the side big time as it went down to the Chiefs 27-22 in Hamilton last night.
The visiting team could not get any momentum into its game and there were too many poor throws and too much inaccuracy from the Highlanders to bag a victory.
This was never more obvious than the final two minutes of the game when they lost two lineouts within the sight of the Chiefs’ tryline.
If a side cannot win these moments then it has not got much chance.
The team at least got a bonus point but it should have won the game against a limited and injury-hit Chiefs outfit.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said it was a frustrating loss.
"We put ourselves in a good position to win the game after scoring a try right on the 65th-minute mark and we could have closed the game out," he said.
"But a couple of poor decisions and skill execution let us down and we ended up conceding a very soft try. We were starting to control the territory and let them back in.
"We’ve got to be harder on ourselves and not let that happen. So, yeah, it is very frustrating."
The side controlled the ball better in the second half and ended up with more ball and territory than the Chiefs.
Worrying for the side was first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga leaving the field in the first 10 minutes with what looked like an Achilles injury.
Mauger said he would be checked out over the next couple of days but it did not look as bad as first thought.
He might have just jammed a couple of bones in his lower foot.
The game looked long gone for the Highlanders early in the second half when Chiefs hooker Nathan Harris barged over to give his side a 20-7 lead.
But the Highlanders came back and managed to hang on to the ball and winger Tevita Li scored after a nice pass by halfback Aaron Smith.
Replacement back Sio Tomkinson then scored with 15 minutes left after a botched kick from Damian McKenzie and the conversion from Fletcher Smith gave the side the lead.
The Chiefs, though, came steaming back and winger Sean Wainui scored out wide to put his side back in front and the home team managed to hang on.
Questions, though, have to be asked about the Chiefs’ play at the breakdown, where they continually blow players standing by the ruck off the ball. Referee Glen Jackson had his usual loose interpretation around work and entry at the breakdown.
Best performers for the Highlanders were winger Waisake Naholo, halfback Smith and loose forward Dillon Hunt.
The Highlanders now have the bye — their second, while some other teams have yet to have one — and the players will disperse this week. They will come back together next weekend to prepare to take on the Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium on April 14.
Highlanders v Chiefs
The scores
Chiefs 27
Solomona Alaimalo, Nathan Harris, Sean Wainui tries; Damian McKenzie 3 con, 2 pen
Highlanders 22
Waisake Naholo, Tevita Li, Sio Tomkinson tries; Fletcher Smith 2 con, pen
Halftime: 13-7 Chiefs