Ill-discipline cost the Highlanders in their 30-23 quarter-final defeat to the Waratahs, according to coach Aaron Mauger.
The Dunedin franchise led 23-6 in the second half in Sydney before a yellow card to Waisake Naholo changed the momentum of the game.
Naholo was binned after two high tackles in a few seconds on Tahs prop Sekope Kepu as he tried to stop a barnstorming run from the Wallabies front-rower.
The Waratahs made the most of the one-man advantage and scored three tries in 10 minutes to eventually walk away 30-23 winners, and earn a date with the Lions in Johannesburg for a spot in the Super Rugby final.
"It was a very pivotal point in the game," said Mauger.
"You have to give credit to the Waratahs for executing in those moments and making the most of us being down to 14 men. That was probably the difference in the end."
The 'Tahs then had to play the last six minutes with 14 men after prop Paddy Ryan was sin-binned when he was caught offside after Highlanders forward Shannon Frizell grounded the ball just short of the line.
The Highlanders had multiple chances to force extra time in the final five minutes, but couldn't crack the Waratahs' desperate defence.
"The frustrating thing was that we couldn't get that momentum back in the second half," said Highlanders co-captain Ben Smith.
"They were playing really well and got a roll on. We felt like we could get back in the game and we had our chances to draw it up, but we didn't take our opportunities."
Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson lauded his side's defence for keeping the Landers at bay.
"As much as we laud our attack, our defence won us the game," he said.
"I thought we were poor in the first half, we lost four lineouts, and we couldn't get any possession, we couldn't hang on to anything, we couldn't string any phases together, we were getting behind in the penalty count.
"On balance we played very poorly, and we still won the game, so it shows we're a good side.
"I said to the boys at halftime all we needed was to sort our ruck out.
"I thought the Highlanders were doing an excellent job there and we just needed some possession at the right end of the field, and we got that."
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