Wales international Rhys Patchell was influential in his Super Rugby Pacific debut on Saturday as the Highlanders opened their campaign with victory over Moana Pasifika.
Fly-half Patchell, who has played 22 tests, directed play expertly with the boot and produced a sublime passing game in a 35-21 home win in Dunedin.
The 30-year-old produced arguably the play of the game when his 30m cut-out pass put Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens outside a defender and free to run to the line for the fullback's second try.
That drew the scores level at 21-21 early in the second half before the Highlanders took control.
Patchell, whose one-season deal ruled him out of contention for the Six Nations, is part of an increased Welsh presence in Super Rugby this year.
Former long-serving test fly-half Stephen Jones has joined Moana Pasifika as an assistant coach.
Fullback Leigh Halfpenny, who played 105 tests for Wales, has signed with the Crusaders.
However, 35-year-old Halfpenny is expected to miss most of the season with a chest injury sustained on his debut for the Crusaders, in a pre-season tour match against Ireland's Munster.
Earlier on Saturday, the Blues beat the Fijian Drua 34-10 in Whangarei, with Hoskins Sotutu and Zarn Sullivan both scoring two tries.