Highlanders' blistering attack lights up stadium

Lima Sopoaga of the Highlanders kicks a penalty to seal the Highlanders win during match between the Highlanders and the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

The brilliance of the Highlanders' attack poses questions about whether it can be repeated at All Black level.

That curiosity will get some answers when the test men begin their work next month but for now the plaudits have to go to the Highlanders for the way they seized victory in their duel with the Chiefs.

For the third battle this season, the Chiefs bulked up their pack and the Highlanders danced their way past that mass to light up their evening under the roof in Dunedin.

Leading the razzle was the speeding halfback bullet Aaron Smith with his even faster outrider Waisake Naholo giving the attack more octane.

There were many others but a cross-section of Ben Smith's direction, Lima Sopoaga's coolness under fire, lean flanker Dan Pryor's reserves of energy and Josh Hohneck's tighthead work and jarring tackle on Tim Nanai-Williams showed the Highlanders' resolve.

When the slush stopped in the other match in Cape Town it meant the Highlanders were heading for a showdown with the Waratahs in Sydney. It will be even more of a David and Goliath contest. Casualties were widespread at the Highlanders while the Tahs had a bye in the eastern suburbs of Sydney to prepare for next Saturday's match.

The Tahs have speed and size in the backs, too, with Israel Folau, factors which will demand more invention from the Highlanders' staff and delivery from their phalanx of spirited attackers.

Aaron Smith packed a fireball of skill into his 85kg frame in a display of all-round talent which encompassed everything which made Sid Going, Chris Laidlaw, Dave Loveridge, Graeme Bachop and Justin Marshall such All Black halfback champions.

Smith has all their class and more, even more voice than any of them, which is remarkable considering the kilometres he churns through in every match. He even stopped for one of those unfulfilling halftime television chats.

If the Chiefs rushed early and inside he flipped one of his wondrous passes beyond Sopoaga to a better-placed teammate, while fast ball from rucks - which helped the Highlanders - was redirected at an even quicker rate.

Dinks over the top of lineouts or breakdowns, cover tackles, cajoling his forwards - Smith was the king under the roof at the House of Blame or Pain, depending on your opinion about that financial investment.

There was much to commend about the Chiefs as well, especially All Black lock Brodie Retallick, but this time they were outgunned, jammed in midfield and left to rue injuries and a season which has slid, rather than surged late in the season.

This was time for Dunedin to have a decent party. Many have wondered and admired their 2015 run and everyone north of the Bombay Hills is envious.