The Highlanders will head to South Africa on a high after dismissing the Sharks 48-15 in Dunedin.
It was another superb display of clever, counter-attacking rugby from the Highlanders, who ran the struggling Durban franchise around and then off the park.
"Really, both teams were under a bit of pressure and we didn't get the result we were after last week and they've had a couple of losses as well," Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said.
Highlanders wing Patrick Osborne avoids yet another Sharks tackle during his sides comprehensive victory.
"I'm really proud of our forward pack. If we didn't give silly penalties away it would have been a perfect performance for me."
The Highlanders have made their roofed stadium into a castle this year, turning a tough draw into a positive by making the most of ideal conditions at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
They won't return home again this season, unless they are able to win the New Zealand conference, with their remaining home game in Invercargill at the end of May.
After last week's tough loss in Canberra, confidence in the Highlanders camp will be high as they head to the republic for games against the Lions and Cheetahs.
These are great times for Highlanders fans, who have had to suffer through some low times with their team.
Last year's playoff appearance was certainly no fluke, although there's some hard work to be done on the road if the Highlanders are going to make a repeat appearance.
You get the feeling they won't mind rolling their sleeves up.
The only concern from the Sharks win was the sight of Ben Smith not returning from a concussion test with half an hour to play.
Joseph said he wasn't aware whether Smith had failed a concussion test, but he wasn't prepared to take any chances with his prized fullback.
Lima Sopoaga provided a master class for the Highlanders during the second half of the first half.
After some smart, short passing amongst the forwards, the Highlanders had scored an excellent try through Gareth Evans to start the game.
Leading 10-0, the Highlanders had the game well in hand, but the Sharks did well to rumble their way back into the contest, forcing a string of penalties and eventually pushing their way into the corner for Tendai Mtawarira to crash his way through the defence.
With the scores back level at 10-10, Sopoaga sparked the Highlanders back into life.
While there was some incisive running from Aaron Smith around the fringe and some breakout attacking from Ben Smith from the back, it was the Southland first five-eighth who provided the finishing touches.
His deft chip kick landed perfectly in the embrace of Waisake Naholo as the competition's leading tryscorer ghosted down the touchline and went in with only just enough room at his disposal.
After the game Sopoaga joked that Naholo owed him a few jugs of kava after the pair had talked about that kick during the week.
"It's a bit of relief to get the win and prepare to go on the road. We did everything the coaches asked, we lifted when we had to. When opportunities came we struck," Sopoaga said.
"We know they are big up front and with any African side, you have to move them around. I thought we did that really nicely and when we executed nicely we put them away."
Sopoaga was again on hand with a beautiful sleight of hand which saw Patrick Osborne scramble his way over for the Highlanders' third try and a 24-10 lead at the break.
Amongst it all there was some deadly kicking from Sopoaga, who landed all three conversions from difficult angles.
The Sharks looked to hit back after halftime with two lineout drives which got them to within sight of the goal line.
Willem Alberts and Marcell Coetzee, great slabs of men both, tried to muscle their way over but twice the Sharks found themselves held up and then - wonder of wonders - a Highlanders scrum which was maligned earlier in the season came up with a timely and celebrated scrum penalty to ease the pressure valve.
The Highlanders would go on to run in four second half tries through Mark Reddish, impressive following the season ending injury to Joe Wheeler, Aaron Smith, Brendon Edmonds and Elliot Dixon.
Highlanders 48 (Gareth Evans, Waisake Naholo, Patrick Osborne, Mark Reddish, Aaron Smith, Brendon Edmonds, Elliot Dixon tries; Lima Sopoaga 5 con, pen) Sharks 15 (Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis tries; Fred Zeilinga pen, con). HT: 24-10
- The Southland Times
