The Queensland Reds have fallen agonisingly short of victory in an emotional start to their Super Rugby season, beaten 36-31 by the Highlanders in Dunedin.
Inspired by lock Izack Rodda, who elected to play two days after the death of his father, the little-fancied Reds nearly pulled off an enormous upset on Friday.
It took a try to Highlanders flanker Dillon Hunt five minutes from time to put the hosts back in front and record a 14th straight win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
They scored five tries to four in an enthralling encounter against a Reds side who showed few signs that it was their first competition game of the season, having sat out an opening-round bye.
Down 29-17 early in the second half, it was an 80-metre try finished by Rodda that gave the Reds belief, inspiring his teammates who were wearing black armbands in his honour.
Captain Samu Kerevi later marvelled at the fortitude of his Wallabies teammate.
"My heart goes out to him and his family. He's a very strong guy. He heard the news and he stayed strong," Kerevi said.
"He still played the game today and played extremely well."
Prop Feao Fotuaika capped a memorable debut with a try to put them in front and they clung to a 31-29 lead for nearly 20 minutes before the desperate Kiwi side created space for Hunt to dive across.
Winger Chris Feauai-Sautia and halfback Moses Sorovi scored the Reds' first-half tries but they trailed by seven points at the break, having been let down by some loose kicking and conceding seven of the game's first eight penalties.
However, the Reds scrum, anchored by the unheralded Fotuaika, and defensive lineout were excellent, keeping them in the game along with a biting defence.
The stand out attacking performer was 18-year-old outside centre Jordan Petaia, who made several withering bursts while fullback Bryce Hegarty, in his first Reds appearance, landed all his five shots at goal.
Kerevi was devastated his team couldn't hold on for 80 minutes.
"The boys worked extremely hard to get us into that position. You can't let it slip against a quality team like the Highlanders," he said.
"But we don't like to use excuses, we just lacked those key moments when we needed to be mentally on."
Kerevi expects his team to play to a consistently higher level than last year's 13th place finish and will challenge for a finals berth for the first time in six seasons.
It was a second straight fightback win for the Highlanders, who beat the Chiefs 30-27 in their first match last week.
Standout flanker Shannon Frizell, brother of NRL star Tyson Frizell, bagged two tries for the hosts while centre Rob Thompson and fullback Ben Smith also crossed.
