Nonetheless, the hosts bagged first points, Cameron Millar hitting three after a tackle infringement in the first minute.
Smart breakdown work in the opening 15 minutes – with Jack Taylor, debutant Lucas Casey and Timoci Tavatavanawai prominent – got the Highlanders clear of early Crusaders surges.
But it was Caleb Tangitau, picking up on a handy break from fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who sparked the scoreboard into action. The right winger skinned two defenders on a 20m blast to the tryline.
Highlanders players celebrate a try against the Crusaders on Friday night. Photo / Photosport
Noah Hotham, gamely sporting a new Slim Shady hair-do, got the Crusaders back into the match with a clever 30m blindside break that followed a midfield 50/50 bomb gone wrong for the Highlanders.
Referee Angus Gardner involved himself smartly, giving crisp directions to keep players clear and the ball in play.
There were first-half lineout wobbles for the Highlanders, and first-night jitters all round, with 17 handling errors across both teams before the break. The Crusaders would have most to rue, with cold hands blowing decent opportunities that might have pushed their halftime lead out further.
Nonetheless, they went to the break 10-8 up, after Rivez Reihana closed the half with a penalty. He opened the second with another three pointer.
Joseph rolled the dice and got reward early, opening the second 40 with props Ethan de Groot and Angus Ta’avao coming off the bench. The later capitalised from a rare Highlanders’ surge into the Crusaders 22, dotting down near the posts for a converted try to snatch back the lead.
Co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai, playing his 50th Super Rugby Pacific game, was powerful and accurate throughout, his brute strength and deft hands sparking the break that led to midfield partner Jonah Lowe scoring another converted try in the 48th minute.
With the hosts on a nine point lead, Rob Penney hit the big black button, rolling out his beefy frontrowers and Will Jordan, who grabbed the ball on his first touch and set off on a 50m break that typified the energy and pace of the second half.
Highlanders Caleb Tangitau scores against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby opener, in Dunedin. Photo / Photosport
Jordan was quickly in everything. On his second notable touch, he skipped through three tacklers to score from a standard scrum-pass move in the 61st minute. The next touch brought a length-of-the-field break from a mark, and 10 minutes later, Reihana was banging over a three-pointer from a high tackle on the nippy outside back.
The 23-22 lead should have been enough for the Crusaders. But Codie Taylor – perhaps carrying a little summer rust after fluffing a straightforward pass to set up an outside break – put in a late, silly body check on late check on fullback Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
Miller pinged the 79th-minute penalty from 40m out, leaving the Highlanders pack to hold on until the 82nd minute to turn a horror show into a fairytale ending.
Surely a good omen for coach Joseph’s All Blacks ambitions.
