Highlanders end Crusaders' streak with 34-26 Super Rugby win

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The Highlanders scored a super try against Crusaders which saw pretty much every one of their players involved!

Matt Faddes upstaged Waisake Naholo in a Highlanders scoring spree when they beat Super Rugby leaders the Crusaders 34-26 in Dunedin.

The bonus point win completed a remarkable treble for the defending champions, who have beaten fellow title contenders the Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders in their last three outings.

Faddes and All Blacks wing Naholo both scored two tries in the relentless running spectacle and it was outside centre Faddes, a former sevens star and one of the fastest players in New Zealand, who set the pace.

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Highlights from Super Rugby as the Highlanders defeated the Crusaders

His ability to slice through the Crusaders' midfield produced his first try and set up Naholo's second, and Faddes then broke the game open when he scored again with a 50-metre solo effort soon after half-time.

With the Highlanders coming into form late in the season there is now a New Zealand logjam at the head of the table with the Crusaders, Chiefs and Highlanders separated only by points differential.

Matt Faddes scored a try in each half against the Crusaders

The Highlanders spent most of the first quarter scrambling in defence as the Crusaders effectively used the inside pass to have tight forwards Owen Franks, Wyatt Crockett and Luke Romano lead a procession through the inside channels.

But they were denied two tries by the television match official when Kieran Read and Romano attacked the line, and Highlanders captain Ben Smith sensed the momentum switch once they had weathered that opening storm.

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"They were probably a bit unlucky not to score a couple of tries, but I'm really proud of the way we reacted to that and managed to get back into the game," said Smith.

"We knew we had to keep attacking. They're a quality team and we had to get points on the board and on the back end of that we had to do a lot of defending and I think if paid off quite nicely."

Liam Squire celebrates with the sold-out crowd at Forsyth Barr Stadium

The Crusaders had to rely on penalties to take a 9-3 lead before the Highlanders, surviving on scraps of possession, burst into life with three tries in the second quarter.

A well-weighted Lima Sopoaga cross-kick put Naholo over in the corner for the first try and they then twice used a wrap-around move from a lineout for Faddes to score his first and send Naholo in for his second.

Faddes extended the Highlanders' lead to 27-12 early in the second half when he stepped inside Matt Todd on the halfway line and raced 50 metres unopposed to dot down.

Israel Dagg scored a late try but it wasn't enough to secure a losing bonus point

The frenetic final 30 minutes were filled with outrageous offloads, power running and brutal tackles.

The Crusaders eventually found their way over the line with a try to Jordan Taufua, only for the Highlanders to reply with a try to Liam Squire.

Israel Dagg finished off the scoring with the Crusaders' second try on full-time but they left Dunedin empty-handed.