In the background of Kieran Read's thumb injury and speculation around the potential state of the All Blacks come June, New Zealand Super Rugby teams continued to dominate.
But with five weeks until the international break, who impressed and who struggled? Here are five things we learned.
1. Don't go, Patty
After revealing he was heading to Japan after this season, Patrick Osborne had arguably his best game for the Highlanders just when the team needed it. Offloading in the tackle and making barnstorming runs, he ignited the team.
He might be on his way out but he's got a big role to play for the southerners for the remainder of the season
2. Chiefs may have peaked too early
A few rounds ago, I wrote about the Chiefs out performing the rest of the competition but that they may run out of steam. Just getting over the line against the Sunwolves demonstrates this.
Playing their second average game in a row, it looks like some of their key performers need a bit of a breather.
3. Mitch Drummond is one of the form halfbacks of the competition
He may have started on the bench for the Crusaders against the Cheetahs but his form this season is one of the stories of the competition.
Elements of his game like his pace around the fringes, his sweeping defence and his bullet pass will only get better with the more time he spends on the park. If his trajectory continues, he's going to be an All Black sooner than later.
4. The Super Rugby cull is appalling
It may not affect New Zealand teams but the Southern Kings - who are almost definitely cut from the competition from next season - showed against the Rebels why this Super Rugby cull is really the worst thing to happen to it behind the original expansion.
Teams are fighting for their lives but - thanks to poorly executed plans and poor governance - whether teams win or not isn't going to make a difference.
5. This Blues team has the goods, they just don't work hard enough
In their young forward pack, Rieko Ioane and Melani Nanai, the Blues have a bright future, but whether it's match conditioning or their fitness levels, they just tend to go missing.
While they sealed a crucial win against the Brumbies in Canberra, players don't seem to be wholly playing their role and it's letting down the rest of the team.
Matt Tewhatu is a digital producer for Newshub.
