Phil Burleigh has not taken long to become a committed Highlanders man.
Just over two weeks ago he was hoping to get a run in the Chiefs jersey.
On Saturday night he scored the match-winning try for the Highlanders in Hamilton against his former side and never gave it a second thought.
"I never thought I would be in that situation [playing for the Highlanders], especially two weeks ago. The boys gave me a bit of grief. But in the end it has been a pretty easy transition and the boys have helped me out a lot," Burleigh said.
"I'm loving it down there. I was born and bred in Christchurch so I'm from the South Island. It is good to be down there.
Loving the cold weather."
A win always helps the spirits and he was part of a committed Highlanders effort which had too much aggression and accuracy for the Chiefs.
"They [the Chiefs] mixed it up a wee bit but you could read a couple of things. I might have had a bit of an advantage on defence."
Burleigh came into the game the further it went on, and scored his critical try after replacement hooker Jason Rutledge charged down an Aaron Cruden clearing kick.
"It was good to score. I was cramping up a wee bit there at the end.
"We were told just to hang in there. It looked as though we could make a few breaks but maybe we were offloading a wee bit too much. We just needed to keep the ball in hand more and use our forwards. In the end, I think it worked.
"In that last five or six minutes we held on very well. We defended very well and were good at the breakdown."
Certainly the Highlanders showed more aggression as the game went on, winning plenty of ball at the breakdown as the Chiefs faded.
The home side started well and was 10 points up early in the second half.
But the Highlanders grew in confidence and could not be denied by an injury-ravaged Chiefs team.
The first try from the visiting side came halfway through the second half when the ball was turned over and shifted by the Highlanders to in front of the posts.
Impressive centre Tamati Ellison went through a half gap, latched on to a lovely Adam Thomson popped pass and fed replacement halfback Aaron Smith, who burrowed over to score.
Five minutes later, Burleigh got the match-winner as the Chiefs scrambled in their own territory. The Highlanders deserved the win because they out-passioned the Chiefs and had the majority of the ball and territory.
In fact the Chiefs' only try, after just 14 minutes, was given to them by Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan throwing a pass to no-one, giving the Chiefs the ball with no defence in front of them.
The Highlanders won plenty of turnover ball when it mattered and Thomson soared high in the lineout.
Chris Noakes was impressive at first five-eighth, not missing a kick for the Highlanders, while Ellison defied belief, considering he had only flown from Japan a couple of days beforehand. No 8 Nasi Manu continued on from last year and was all over the paddock, while hooker Andrew Hore showed he will be a valuable addition to the franchise.
It probably could not have gone worse for the Chiefs. Hundreds of people were still outside the ground when the game kicked off, the scoreboard did not work and the game ended with golden oldie scrums as props Ben Afeaki (broken arm) and Toby Smith (calf) were forced off.
Winger Lelia Masaga (knee) and halfback Brendon Leonard (hamstring) also limped out of the game, meaning the Chiefs could have a difficult week as they prepare to play the Blues.
Super 15
The scores
Highlanders: 23
Aaron Smith, Phil Burleigh tries; Chris Noakes 2 con, 3 pen
Chiefs: 19
Lelia Masaga try; Aaron Cruden con, 4 pen
Halftime: Chiefs 16-9
Crowd: 12,058
