Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan says his players need to have a good look at themselves and the side was looking a bit lost on attack.
The previously invincible Crusaders suffered their third consecutive loss when they were beaten 6-0 by the Highlanders in their Super 14 rugby match at Carisbrook in Dunedin last night.
The Highlanders will have an almost injury free squad to pick from for next Saturday night's game against the Chiefs in Invercargill.
The Highlanders have been boosted by the return of All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan and experienced lock Tom Donnelly for Saturday night's South Island Super 14 rugby derby against the Crusaders in Dunedin.
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan admits he is not much of a spectator.
Captain Jimmy Cowan returns and will form a new combination with No 8 George Naoupu as the Highlanders look to score a second straight win over the Crusaders in their Super 14 match at Carisbrook tomorrow night.
As a Highlanders supporter, Ben Smith can remember watching one of the most painful of Crusaders wins at Carisbrook.
Crusaders centre Casey Laulala has been ruled out of Saturday's Super 14 rugby match against the Highlanders at Dunedin with a shoulder injury.
A Highlanders supporter says he feels let down at not being able to watch Saturday night's game from the terrace for the normal price.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore says the side is not getting bogged down in the past, and has been working hard on how to handle pressure at the end of games.
Jason Macdonald says it is going to be a strange feeling walking under the grandstand at Carisbrook on Saturday night.
Highlanders captain Jimmy Cowan is almost certain to be available to take on the Crusaders at Carisbrook on Saturday night.
The Highlanders broke the Sydney hoodoo by beating the Waratahs 29-28 there in 2004, and they won again, 26-25, on their next visit two years ago.
Two tries in the last five minutes saved the Hurricanes' blushes as they came from behind to beat the Highlanders 22-17 in a Super 14 rugby match in Wellington tonight.
Daniel Bowden believes he is emerging from the rookie category as he tries to turn around the Highlanders' fortunes in this year's Super 14 rugby tournawent.
The luckless Highlanders face a trip to the unbeaten Waratahs without two thirds of their All Blacks contingent after Jimmy Cowan was ruled out of the third round Super 14 rugby match in Sydney on Friday night.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore said his side played well in patches but labelled the sin-binning of Adam Thomson as ridiculous.
For the second week in a row, the Highlanders had victory prised out of their hands, conceding two tries in the final five minutes to go down to the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh is out of rugby for six weeks through injury.
David Hall says the Highlanders have to learn how to close down games if they want to have a successful season.
