When the Highlanders played the Southern Kings on Saturday it was really a case of trying to keep head above water as they were hoping to shake the Wooden Spoon tag and get their second win of the competition.
Most people would have probably bet against the Kings as the long Super Rugby season is taking its toll and fatique is setting in and also the fact that they have been struggling since returning from their tour. Playing the full 80 minutes without scoring a point against the Bulls and fighting back and doing enough to stay within reach against the Cheetahs but inexperience getting the better of them in the end.
But the game against the Waratahs a week ago was a different story. If the game against the Crusaders which ended 55 - 20 was a "rugby lesson" and the fact that the Kings had no answers to the attacking blue wave of the Bulls, the game against the Waratahs must have been a career ending game. The Waratahs scored 11 tries against the Kings 1 to bring the final score to 72 - 10.
The Kings entered the game against the Highlanders with an extremely disappointing lose against the Waratahs and the Highlanders entered the game with some confidence after winning their first game against the Sharks at home a week before. Who would you put your money on?
From the very first ruck you could see this was a different Kings outfit, the same players but they looked more focused and more determined then a week ago. They were playing in the Highlanders faces and showed no respect. The Highlanders probably played like a team at the bottom end of the competition, standing back and waiting for the Kings to do the playing and being happy with just defending.
It was a very entertaining match for the 19 459 spectators at the Nelson Mandela Stadium and the Kings never disappointed their Kings Army. Scoring 4 tries and getting maximum points from the game to move one spot up on the log, now in 13th position. The Kings will enjoy a bye this weekend before turning their attention to their return match against the Cheetahs at home on the 25th of May.
As much as credit needs to go to Luke Watson for a true captains role in leading from the front and scoring two of his teams tries, praise must go to all 22 players. It takes a special team to pick themselves up from a 72 - 10 defeat and beat a seasoned Super Rugby team mixed with a few All Blacks and scoring 4 tries in the process.
"Failure is not getting knocked down. It is about not getting up" - Alan Solomon's after their lose against the Waratahs.
Final score: Southern Kings 34 Highlander 27
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