Chiefs captain Sam Cane has avoided being cited for a high tackle on Hurricanes halfback TJ Perenara that went unpunished during their Super Rugby Aotearoa match in Hamilton.
But that's only one positive to emerge from an otherwise gloomy afternoon for the Chiefs, who are struggling to explain how they've gone from competition contenders to bottom of the table and winless from four games.
On Sunday, the Chiefs slumped to their fourth straight Super Rugby Aotearoa loss, when they fell to the Hurricanes and are unable to explain their rapid demise.
"It's frustrating, because it feels like we're so damn close," says Cane. "It's not like we're finishing games and we weren't really in them.
"We're in them and we're giving ourselves opportunities to win them."
But they're not taking their opportunities with ball in hand.
"It's frustrating at the moment," says coach Warren Gatland. "We just can't seem to buy a trick."
Despite dominating both possession and territory, the Chiefs coughed up 16 turnovers, double that of the Hurricanes.
Lost with those chances is any hope of winning Super Rugby Aotearoa.
"We can't win this now, if we're realistic," Gatland admits. "But we want to try and earn some respect in these last four games, and I think that's pretty important."
They haven't lost any from their opposition, although Hurricanes winger Kobus van Wyk - who bagged a double in Sunday's win - admits they appear a different side to the one before lockdown.
"I think the whole COVID-19 thing has messed up their rhythm a little bit," says van Wyk. "They're just unlucky with a few things just not going their way."
Cane is adamant there's no shortage of belief in the group.
"It's not like the group's not on the same page," says the skipper. "We're all singing off the same song sheet and trying our guts out."
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