Better than beating the Crusaders away from home and denying them even a bonus point?
The dream season from the Highlanders continued on Saturday night when they scored a 26-18 win over the Crusaders in Nelson.
It was a show of guts and character from the Highlanders, who knocked over any Crusaders attacker who moved and then made the most of the chances which came along.
The Highlanders stood strong in the tackle, making more than 100 of them, and played themselves to a standstill by the end.
But it was all worth it and the victory drinks tasted sweet on Saturday night.
And remember: this was a win over the Crusaders, the side which put 40 points past the Highlanders just over a month ago, the team which was supposed to cakewalk to the title.
But that was not the story in Nelson on Saturday night, as the Highlanders rode home on a never-say-die attitude, an ability to make the crucial play at the right time, and just all-out endeavour.
Those plays were the key: Robbie Robinson pushing Zac Guildford out in the corner when a try was on offer; James Paterson brushing off Israel Dagg to score in the first half; Ben Smith sending his opposite Adam Whitelock back 5m near the end to stop the Crusaders attack in its tracks, and replacement flanker Tim Boys lowering Wyatt Crockett as the prop charged for the line.
This was all about attitude for the Highlanders, and the side never buckled when under siege for periods in the second half.
The Crusaders were admittedly off their game. They had key personnel missing and lost both halfback Andy Ellis and lock Brad Thorn early in the match. And no-one from the home team seemed to put his hand up when the pressure went on.
But to the Highlanders, it did not seem to matter who they were facing. If it moved in a red and black uniform, it was lowered.
The key to playing against the Crusaders is eliminating the errors and that is exactly what the Highlanders did.
There were no silly knock-ons, the kicking - apart from the opening kick-off was good and the set piece was strong enough when it needed to be.
There was some absolute top games from the men wearing the blue and gold.
Lock Josh Bekhuis was all over the paddock and Nasi Manu made ground every time he got the ball. Jarrad Hoeata just keeps getting better and John Hardie showed all his skills.
Halfback Aaron Smith cleared the ball well and never stopped all night.
Paterson played his best game in the Highlanders jersey and Robbie Robinson continues to make great strides this season.
The only black mark for the Highlanders was the start. Tony Brown kicked out on the full, and the Highlanders conceded a penalty from the resulting scrum.
Mathew Berquist knocked over the penalty but the Highlanders simply rolled their sleeves up and went to work.
Brown tied the scores, only for the Crusaders to go ahead when Dagg sped through a gap and fed the flying Guildford, who could not be stopped.
But the Highlanders got back into the game midway through the first half, when Manu went right from a scrum and quick hands from the loose forwards led to Siale Piutau going over.
Then Paterson showed speed and strength to get on the board, brushing off Dagg.
He was in again straight after the break, when Tony Brown put in a perfect cross kick after a nice run down the right off the scrum.
Brown then kicked two penalties after George Whitelock was offside at the ruck.
Adam Whitelock scored after a loose Highlanders pass but the more the Crusaders tried near the end, the stronger the Highlanders' defence came.
It was somehow apt that Sonny Bill Williams coughed the ball up at the end - good southern spirit beat the flash boys from up the road.
Super 15
The scores
Highlanders: 26
James Paterson 2, Siale Piutau tries; Tony Brown con, 3 pen
Crusaders: 18
Zac Guildford, Adam Whitelock tries; Mathew Berquist con, pen, drop goal
Halftime: Highlanders 15-13
