The season is nearly at an end, so the obvious question for Jamie Joseph is: what would he have done differently?
There is a long pause from the coach when that question is asked. A few thoughts go through his mind. But his hesitation says plenty.
''Nothing comes to mind quickly. I look at the season and having an influx of your stars turn up late, the leader [captain Andrew Hore] of those guys not allowed to play for five weeks - that is an uncontrollable.
''If you are going to pick current All Blacks you have got to make sure those guys left behind are strong enough to win without them.
''These guys [All Blacks] are not ready, they are not mentally or physically ready. They are coming into the season late. In our team we had the most we have ever had, and that was compounded by injuries.
''And then we lost those tight games. All uncontrollables. If that had been different, we would be talking about a different season.
''What would I have changed? It is hard to know.''
The Highlanders have one game to go - against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday night - and sit 14th on the ladder with just three wins.
It is a long way from what many predicted.
Playoffs were seen as a minimum for a team with a dozen internationals and big-name signings.
But a horror start, including eight straight losses, scuttled those hopes.
Joseph said that was naturally disappointing.
He said there were numerous reasons for the way the season turned out.
''A lot of our planning was based on previous years and how we did things. What we did do, we have done every year but we did it a month later.
''We went to [the] Greenstone [Valley] and that was really good. Went to Wanaka with families and that was really good. But that cost us a month of training together as a team.
''We did not have the intellectual property around that teams like the Crusaders have. They are used to it ... That was a big learning.''
The side lost its first game against the Chiefs, a close one, and that was the start of a losing rut.
''We went up next against the Cheetahs. To everyone in New Zealand - not me - the Cheetahs are a nothing team. But they have gone on to the playoffs, so that is clearly wrong.
''We gave them three tries. We had to sub our first five-eighth. He was a bit young. So there goes two games and it is a slippery slide then.
''Great teams go through losing streaks. I have read a book on losing streaks and it said the more focus you have on winning, the further away winning gets.
"It is a psychological situation. The guys can run, tackle and score tries. What you have is some great rugby players affected psychologically by the affect of losing week in, week out.
''That affects their performance, no doubt about it. You are talking about confidence. Talking about a group of highly skilled athletes going into their shell and being afraid to do anything.
''What that means for a forward is go straight and direct so he does not lose the ball, or overcommit at the ruck, so he does not have to make decisions. So he does not want to be that player that causes the team to lose.
''But in a game of football in key positions you can't do that. Like the nine or 10.''
He admitted at times it was a dark hole for management and players, but no-one had started pointing fingers.
''What had been done in pre-season had been done, we just had to soldier on.
''You are getting guys with heads down on Monday. That has to be expected. There was not too much of that, not openly anyway. There was not an emphasis or blame on one particular component. The team understood what they were doing.''
Joseph said a successful side had to be carefully selected.
''You've got to have the right mix. Having a whole group of superstars does not mean you are going to win. Relying on local talent alone is not going to get you a win.
''Experience is invaluable. It is a long season. You are not going to win every game and it is up to the coach to target the ones you are going to win. But if I could avoid injuries I would avoid them like the plague.''
He did not regret signing the likes of Ma'a Nonu and Tony Woodcock, but said injuries blunted their impact - not just those players, but experienced colleagues beside them.
Nonu approached the Highlanders about coming south.
''Ma'a Nonu came to us. I was in the Marlborough Sounds catching blue cod. He did not want to stay at the Blues. We looked at it at the time and thought 'would it not be great to have a player like that?' He is one of the best players in the world.''
Joseph admitted Adam Thomson not returning was a huge blow, and that was compounded when No 8 Nasi Manu went down in the first game, gone for the season.
''I know the loose forwards we have have copped a lot of flak. But two of them were selected as locks. To their credit they filled a hole. Once you have selected that team that is what you have got.''
Whenever losses start racking up, the theories soon follow. The side trains too much, not enough local players, too many old players, too indisciplined.
Joseph said training was lighter than last year.
''Compared to the previous two years we have done nowhere near as much training. We have not trained as hard.''
The yellow cards were a concern for Joseph. The team has received 11 yellow cards, nearly double the next worse offending side.
''That is pressure, guys not reading the situation well. In the weekend we gave away a yellow card when we were 25 odd points up. Who is under pressure?''
It is the flip side to being so desperate to win. I am not going to do anything to ... I am not going to lose anymore, so I am going to do anything to stop that.''
Local players were considered but they had to measure up.
''We're always looking at local guys. I know that the Otago team lost in the second division finals. I know an Otago team can't win the Super rugby competition as well. It is one thing beating Tasman, another beating the Waratahs.''
Otago loose forward TJ Ioane had been a pleasant surprise when he came into the side.
''The way he was used last year in the ITM Cup suggested he was a one trick pony. He came on with 20 minutes to do what he can for 80 minutes.
"Every time he has played for us he has done really, really well. He is very strong in that area. What I have been impressed about him is he is showing the intellectual [ability] to play at a higher level.''
He said some local players had come into the team for a period of time to train and play in pre-season, and had just not done enough to warrant selection.
But for injury, Jayden Spence would have come in before Neil Brew.
He was not disappointed when players such as Nonu and Aaron Smith played better for the All Blacks than the Highlanders.
''In an All Black team you are expected to do two or three things. The ironic thing about that is that is all I would expect from them as well.
''The players themselves feel a greater expectation on themselves to perform at a lower level because they are All Blacks. It doesn't come from the coaches. Never have I said to someone `you are an All Black, you need to play better'.''
In his third year as head coach, he never considered walking away, although he had a few sleepless nights.
He was looking forward to next year, the second year of a two-year deal, and his fourth year in charge. It was not up to him to decide whether he was the correct man for the role, but he was planning already for next season.
''I came down here to do a job. I feel I am doing the job. We are not winning all the time, but we weren't winning all the time last year either.''
