20 v 16 
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Whatever form Waikato had left along with the Ranfurly Shield.
That much was clear after they slumped their third straight defeat on Friday.
They dominated possession and territory but couldn’t hold out Southland, the second championship team to trip them up in less than a month.
This 20-16 defeat was close on paper, but it will raise a few questions of their ability to stay in the premiership for another season.
Perhaps Chris Gibbes saw something no one else could before he jumped ship earlier this year.
Meanwhile, elation was mixed with a dash of relief for the men from Invercargill.
They picked up their first win after four starts and doubled their try-scoring tally for the season thanks to Cardiff Vaega and Josh Bekhuis.
Having lost to Tasman, Northland and Taranaki, coach David Henderson added some much-needed firepower to his backline in the form of Auckland-based second-five Willis Halaholo.
He provided the spark Southland has so sorely missed in the opening rounds of the ITM Cup, and possibly even longer, and linked well with barnstorming centre Vaega.
Waikato came into the match having lost to Otago and Canterbury but there was never really any hint of a backlash.
Trent Renata slotted every opportunity he was given – three penalty goals in the first half – but other than that there was little to cheer about.
It’s in games like these that Waikato fans probably wish former captain Alex Bradley didn’t decide to retire and prop Ben May didn’t get a sniff of the money in Japan.
Those hard men would have been extremely useful in this one.
The Stags are renowned for the strength of their forwards, but Tasman and Northland proved they can be tamed.
Instead Waikato played into their hands, committing silly errors and allocating poor security around their ball carriers.
It allowed Southland to swing their early momentum and camp in the attacking half of the field where Vaega muscled his way over from close range.
A penalty to Marty Mckenzie nudged the home side ahead 10-9 as the teams went up the tunnel at the break.
That sniff of victory was all Southland needed and they came out firing in the second half, where Halaholo was incredibly unlucky not dot down in the right corner.
Bekhuis crossed in similar fashion moments later to give his side a 17-9 lead.
Semisi Masirewa dotted over for the visitors to make their score sheet look a little more respectable.
But Stags replacement first-five Scott Eade slotted one final penalty before Waikato’s poor handling let them down once more to end the match.
Southland: 20 (Cardiff Vaega, Josh Bekhuis tries; Marty Mckenzie 2 cons, pen; Scott Eade pen)
Waikato: 16 (Semisi Masirewa try; Trent Renata con, 3 pen)
HT: 10-9 Southland
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