Round 7 of Super Rugby Pacific went as the bookmakers predicted, but only after both the Highlanders and Hurricanes threatened to flip the script on the Crusaders and Chiefs respectively.
As we approach the midpoint of the competition, it's the Brumbies and Reds who sit atop the ladder, with the Crusaders and Blues nipping at their heels.
The Waratahs are next on the standings, though the table is set for a shake-up once the trans-Tasman action begins with Super Round in week 10.
Read on for some of the Super - and Not So Super - action from Round 7.
SUPER
Sunday afternoon footy is a winner
We've already had a couple of Sunday afternoon games this year, but there was something about a sunny Sky Stadium, free of COVID restrictions, with a healthy crowd on show, that really put a smile on your face as the Chiefs pipped the Hurricanes.
The game began at a furious pace with plenty of free-flowing rugby and while that plateaued somewhat through the middle quarters of the match, the Hurricanes set up a thrilling finish with two late tries and some clutch goal-kicking from Jordie Barrett, who enjoyed a solid outing in his first start at No. 12 this season.
Alas, the heroics of skipper Ardie Savea, who caught the Chiefs napping with a clever quick tap, powering his way to the line to bridge the gap to just a point, would ultimately amount to just a bonus point for the Hurricanes.
Despite the result, the home crowd still would have likely gone home satisfied with their Sunday afternoon activities.
Sadly, we'll have to wait until Super Round in three weeks' time before we get more Sunday afternoon footy. Thankfully, though, we'll be blessed with back-to-back games to wind up the historic weekend.
Reds big guns step up against Brumbies
Brad Thorn's side got revenge for their narrow loss in Canberra a fortnight earlier, recovering from an early Cameron Clark try to run out convincing 21-7 winners over the Brumbies on Saturday night.
It was a win spearheaded by their Wallabies, too, with each of Fraser McReight, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia playing key roles in the 14-point win.
While the entire Reds' team did well to overcome the red card to Tuaina Taii Tualima, there were two big plays that stood out in a game that again, unfortunately, struggled for fluidity.
The first big play came when the Reds were playing under advantage just after halftime. Realising he had a free play, O'Connor kicked a perfectly-placed high ball to the edge of the Brumbies' try line, which Petaia then soared high to claim above Tom Wright.
McReight was then on hand, as he was all night, to pick up the ball at the breakdown and drive his way over past Clark and Andy Muirhead.
The second big play came late in the match when the Brumbies were looking to work a scrum play through the backs. The problem was, however, that both Paisami and McDermott read it perfectly and made a beeline for scrum-half Nic White, who felt the full brunt of Paisami's right shoulder.
While White could see the lighter side of the incident, his ribs might be a bit ginger at Wallabies camp over the next couple of days.
Eklund nabs a hat trick at hooker
Given the way the game is played nowadays, and the attacking weapon that the rolling maul has become, hookers have become some of the most prolific try-scorers in the game.
It's not unusual to see the men wearing No. 2 on the first or second line of the first try-scorer betting, such has become their ability to attach themselves to the back of a maul and rumble their way over.
Still, we shouldn't sell their achievements short, particularly when a hooker nabs a hat trick, just as the Blues' Kurt Eklund did in his side's win over Moana Pasifika on Sunday.
While the entire forward pack can take responsibility for the three successful lineout drives, it's Eklund's name on the team sheet - the hooker now sitting atop the season's try-scoring charts with Tom Wright and Leicester Fainga'anuku.
NOT SO SUPER
Clarke flies high and pays the price
Of the Round 7 Super Rugby Pacific matches, only the Hurricanes-Chiefs game managed to get through the 80 minutes without having a red card handed out.
But we also saw something new in the foul play stakes in Round 7 when Caleb Clarke was sent off for a charge down that went horribly wrong and knocked Moana Pasifika winger Tomasi Alosio out cold.
Receiving the ball down the short side from a scrum, Alosio chipped over the top of Clarke in an attempt to keep the ball in play as the touchline beckoned. But immediately after he had kicked ahead, Clarke, who was attempting a charge-down of sorts, thundered into the head of Alosio, the Blues winger's hip catching his Moana opposition flush on the head.
Clarke simply got the entire challenge wrong, despite there being no malice in his act.
Given he was coming at speed and made direct contact with the head, referee James Doleman had no choice but to dismiss Clarke.
The Blues winger should expect to receive a suspension, potentially around the three-week mark which may be cut further to two if he completes the foul play education process offered by SANZAAR.
Clarke's challenge evoked memories of a similar incident which saw Irish back-rower CJ Stander sent from the field during a Test against the Springboks in 2016. Stander received a one-week ban.
Tualima doesn't learn from Tupou's experience
While Clarke's ugly hit was more an unfortunate piece of timing and clumsy execution, Reds back-rower Tuaina Taii Tualima could have few excuses for his dangerous cleanout on James Slipper in Brisbane on Saturday night.
What made Tualima's cleanout even more stupid was the fact that his Reds teammate Taniela Tupou had only a fortnight earlier ridden the highs and lows of the SANZAAR judiciary, which is often unpredictable, before escaping without a ban for a hit on Jahrome Brown.
But when Tupou was able to prove he hadn't made contact with Brown's head, Tualima's shoulder clearly caught Slipper flush on the noggin, sending the Brumbies prop tumbling backwards.
While play continued, the TMO began to review the incident and when the ball was eventually kicked out there was only ever going to be one result. That was referee Angus Gardner showing Tualima a red card, and the back-rower likely having a multi-week spell to reassess his cleanout technique.
Hunt misses touch when it matters
Highlanders fly-half Mitch Hunt had been enjoying a solid game until late in his side's loss to the Crusaders.
With the Crusaders under pressure, and on a yellow card warning, the Highlanders had the opportunity to level the scores at 17-all. Instead, the visitors decided to push for the winner with 10 minutes still to run on the clock, opting to kick for the corner and set up a lineout drive.
However, Hunt's kick drifted to the right of the corner flag, going dead in goal and turning over possession.
"Those are the moments that can really cost you," Sky Sport commentator Tony Johnson said immediately after Hunt's kick.
He wasn't wrong, as despite a late red card to replacement hooker Shilo Klein, the Highlanders would soon fall to a 17-14 defeat.
They are still without a win in season 2022.