Warren Gatland left disappointed after his son 'Bryn' steered Highlanders to thrilling win

Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland expressed disappointment as his team was handed a one-point defeat to Highlanders in the Super Rugby Aotearoa opener in Dunedin on Saturday.

From being 22-16 down at the end of the first half, Chiefs managed to make a second half comeback to take a 25-27 lead until the 79th minute when Gatland's son Bryn playing for Highlanders kicked a drop goal to steer his side to a thrilling win.

"I'm not happy that we lost the game but well done to him. I don't care if he's my son or not. I'll go away and have a look at that but I'm still disappointed in the result", said Gatland, who took in charge of Chiefs ahead of the 2020 season after stepping down from Wales role.

"We get ourselves in front and then we turn over to them, we turn over to them, we didn't secure possession and that's the game for us."

Bryn was not named in the original matchday squad of Highlanders but a late injury to Josh Ioane meant the 25-year-old was added to the bench and replaced fullback Vilimoni Koroi in the 60th minute of the game.

"I had dinner last night with him and mum and halfway through dinner he got a text and said 'you're on the bench tomorrow' and I said 'I don't want to give the game plan away'."

Chiefs will take on Auckland Blues in the second round at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on 20th June.