Hurricanes win scrappy Super Rugby game over Highlanders in Dunedin

What is going on with the Hurricanes?

Grinding out wins? Showing character, rather than just being characters? How long can this alternative reality last for?

"Sometimes you can blast out a win and sometimes you have to grind out a win and we would put this in the grind category," Canes coach Chris Boyd said after his team's 20-13 win over the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night.

"The Highlanders are getting pretty good at coming back hard at the end. I think it's a true reflection that two years ago we had guys that were new to Super Rugby, now they have 25 or 30 caps and we've still managed to hold onto the experienced end. I think there is a good degree of experience, or maturity, in the side."

There's no question the Hurricanes are the form team in New Zealand rugby after five straight wins to start their first campaign under Boyd.

It's not easy to win at Forsyth Barr Stadium at the moment - just ask the Waratahs - but the Hurricanes were able to apply enough pressure in the first half to allow them to land killer blows through Reggie Goodes and TJ Perenara in the second.

The Highlanders, starved of ball in attacking positions, came back in the final minutes and looked to have stolen a late draw before being called back for a forward pass.

While that call was correct, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph had reason to question a number of other moments of the game controlled by rookie referee Ben O'Keeffe.

"We didn't have an ounce of luck. I didn't feel that we got any decisions for us and we didn't play very well at the start of the game either. I think both teams were messy, there were a lot of nerves out there, a lot at stake I guess."

The Highlanders had a try disallowed when Ben Smith was judged to have impeded a player he was clearing out at a ruck.

A penalty against Waisake Naholo when he was trying to steal a ball was also a key moment in the game.

"He's going to be a good ref at some stage, he just needs to get some experience. He's going to come on, he communicates well with the players, he's decisive," Joseph said.

"You feel for the players because obviously a lot of effort goes into the game and the preparation, but there was a lot of marginal decisions that went against us. The opportunities that we did get given, in terms of our attack, we didn't take them. They defended well, the Hurricanes."

With the score locked at 3-3 at halftime, the Hurricanes settled to their task better in the second spell and they led 20-6 with 10 minutes to go.

The Highlanders managed to score a try in the dying minutes after Julian Savea had been sent to the bin to salvage a bonus point.

The win did come at a cost for the Canes, who lost their best ball carrier during the game, Ardie Savea, to a badly dislocated finger which saw him go to hospital for treatment.

Hurricanes 20 (Reggie Goodes, TJ Perenara tries; Beauden Barrett 2 pen, 2 con) Highlanders 13 (Lima Sopoaga try, 2 pen, con) HT: 3-3.