The Highlanders started off poorly and did not get much better as they fell to a 38-12 defeat to the Sharks in Durban yesterday.
As Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said, the skills were poor from the men in green.
Ben Smith dropped high balls, players fell off tackles and passes were dropped or did not even go to hand.
The Highlanders have not been playing with a lot of ball of late and that trend continued against the Sharks.
The southern franchise had been able to win through its tenacious defence and taking chances when they came along.
But in Durban, the Highlanders leaked tries — they missed 29 tackles — and could not make the most of the chances.
The side was continually hassled when it had the ball and found it difficult to find space.
Right from the first minute, when Sharks hooker Aaker van der Merwe scored after the Sharks nabbed a high kick, the Highlanders looked well off the pace.
There may be question marks around the Highlanders’ playoff prospects after this game but the biggest head-scratcher from the match was how the Sharks can be sitting mid table.
The men from Durban played with pace and poise and had talented players all over the park.
From a speedy back three to a rugged and powerful front row, the Sharks looked a well-coached and complete side.
How they have won only four games all season is a bit of a mystery.
After conceding that early try, the Highlanders were down another after six minutes when winger Makezolo Mapimpi scored.
The Highlanders came back into the game when flanker Dillon Hunt scored from a rolling maul just before the half-hour mark.
The home team added a penalty before halftime to give a 17-7 scoreline.
The opening few minutes of the second spell were always going to be pivotal for the match.
The Highlanders had to land an early blow but all they did was get exposed on the outside and big loose forward Daniel du Preez ran over to score.
With the score at 24-7 and the Sharks growing by the minute, the game looked over for the Highlanders — and it was.
Further scores followed and everything the Highlanders tried was met by a brick wall.
Midfield back Tei Walden scored a try at the end after a nice Ben Smith break but it was game over by then.
The best were all Sharks players, with plenty of power and speed on display.
In other results over the weekend, the Crusaders beat the Rebels 55-10 in Melbourne while the Hurricanes beat the Lions 28-19. The Blues continued the Australian drought against New Zealand teams — it is now up to 38 — winning 24-21 over the Waratahs, and the Stormers beat the Bulls 29-17 in Cape Town.
• Three players from the South helped the New Zealand under-20 team to a win in the final of the Australasian tournament on the Gold Coast.
Otago players hooker Ricky Jackson and fullback Vilimoni Koroi, along with Southland halfback Jay Renton, helped the New Zealand team defeat Australia 43-28 after leading 28-7 at halftime.
The side for the world championships in Italy will be named later this month.
Super Rugby
The scores
Sharks 38
Aaker van der Merwe, Makezolo Mapimpi, Daniel du Preez, Sbu Nkosi, Robert du Preez tries; Robert du Preez 5 con, pen
Highlanders 12
Dillon Hunt, Tei Walden tries; Lima Sopoaga