Highlanders co-captain Ash Dixon admits it was a weird feeling playing their final Super Rugby Aotearoa match behind closed doors against the Hurricanes in Dunedin.
Due to the level 2 restrictions in place for the entire country, except Auckland which is in level 3, Saturday's match took place with no fans inside Forsyth Barr Stadium - which Dixon said was "bizarre", as they've averaged 20,000 fans per game this season.
The lack of noise had no impact, as the Highlanders ended their campaign with a 38-21 win to finish their campaign with three wins and five losses.
"It was bizarre," says Dixon.
"You could hear everything, I could hear lineout calls, and the feeling of it was just funny.
"But once you zoned in and the game was flowing it was OK.
"[But] It was like a trial, like two teams trialling for something, because you didn't have the energy of the crowd, the Zoo going nuts, the DJ playing, the bagpipes rolling through, it was just... quiet."
The game was the only one this Super Rugby Aotearoa season to be played without fans, while the Blues v Crusaders match, scheduled for Sunday, was cancelled.
The result ensures the Blues finish second, as a Hurricanes win would have propelled them above the Auckland franchise.
With the scores locked at 14-14 at the break, the Highlanders came out firing, scoring 24 unanswered points.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland was disappointed his side couldn't capitalise on their opportunities earlier in the game.
"We felt like we had the better of the first half and for a variety of reasons we didn't score ties," said Holland.
"The Highlanders are a great side, and when they have momentum like they did in the first part of that second half, they are hard to stop.
"We were beaten by a better team in the end, but we probably didn't take those opportunities in the first half."
For Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger, the win gives him a major confidence boost with his contract due to expire at the end of the year.
While the Highlanders finished the season fourth, many expected them to come dead last, but Mauger's side made steady improvements during the season.
"It was a great way to finish," says Mauger.
"I think through our performances this year it feels like our fans have fallen back in love with the team.
"That's what we want. We want to make sure our fans are connected to our game, they enjoy the way we play, and they walk away with a smile on their face.
"We're inspiring the next generation of Highlanders, and I think we've done that."
