Team’s latest loss

lineout and we also should have thrown to the front.

‘‘Certainly it was tough to watch and obviously a massive turning point in the game.’’

More bad news for the Blues is that Gareth Anscombe is out of next weekend’s game against the Chiefs with a high ankle sprain.

Meanwhile, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph wasn’t overly impressed with his team’s play despite getting five points for the night’s work.

‘‘I thought it was going to be a difficult game, you usually get that with spirited guys who’ve been dropped and I’m talking about the All Blacks, and then young guys who get a responsibility,’’ he said.

‘‘I guess when young guys get picked and the coach shows a bit of belief in their inexperience it tends to bring out the best of players in those situations. I was surprised by our lack of efficiency, particularly in the first half.

‘‘However, you can’t be too grumpy, coming up to Auckland and beating a Blues side, I’m very proud of the team.’’

The Highlanders could have been bundled out of the top six if the Sharks bet the Stormers his morning but captain Jamie Mackintosh was just pleased to come away with four tries and a bonus-point victory.

‘‘We were just lucky enough to get a try just before and after halftime,’’ he said in a pitchside interview. ‘‘Credit to the Blues, they showed a lot of heart out there tonight.

‘‘We’ve got a tough run home but we know ourselves that we’re a pretty tough team.’’