 The following season in 1999 the Highlanders improved on their 1997 season record by reaching and hosting the tournament final . They opened their season with a 19 – 13 victory over the Auckland Blues at Carisbrook . This was followed by a victory over the Northern Bulls , the Stormers at Carisbrook , and the Cats , before their first loss of the season to the Sharks . They returned to New Zealand to defeat the Waikato Chiefs and then the Crusaders . After defeating the Reds , the Highlanders lost to the New South Wales Waratahs at Carisbrook . The next week they defeated the Brumbies at the same venue . In their next match , despite leading the Wellington Hurricanes 14 – 3 at half time , the Highlanders lost when Hurricanes half back Jason Spice scored in the corner to give the Hurricanes a 21 – 19 victory . Had the Highlanders won they would have finished top of the table and hosted a semi @-@ final at Carisbrook . Instead they then had to travel to South Africa where they defeated the Stormers 33 – 18 . The Highlanders travelled back to Dunedin for the 1999 Super 12 Final , which was against South Island rivals the Canterbury Crusaders , and was billed as " the party at Tony Brown 's house " after Highlanders first five @-@ eighth Tony Brown . The Highlanders scored first , and led 14 – 9 at half time . However the decisive try was to Crusaders wing Afato So 'oalo , who chipped the ball then out @-@ sprinted All Blacks winger Jeff Wilson to collect the ball and score . Although the Highlanders scored a try to Isitolo Maka with three minutes remaining , the Crusaders won 24 – 19 . 
