Round 3 of Super Rugby Pacific threw up a couple of upsets, some other tight finishes and some brilliant attacking rugby along the way.
There were wins for the Chiefs, Rebels, Fijian Drua, Blues, Brumbies and Force.
The Chiefs and Brumbies remain the only unbeaten sides, while the Crusaders, incredibly, have just one win through three weeks. Is something awry in Christchurch?
Read on as we review some of the Super - And Not So Super - action from Round 3.
SUPER
Where else could we start this week but at Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji?
After two amazing matches that ultimately ended in defeat on their return home last year, the Drua were expected to be dangerous opposition on their home turf in 2023.
But to beat the Crusaders, first up, with a penalty after the siren? Astonishing.
Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby and their other SANZAAR partners must be wondering how on earth it took them all so long to bring the Drua into Super Rugby, as the atmosphere in Fiji is the best thing this version of the competition has going for it.
And Saturday's win over the competition's premier franchise proves they no longer just belong in the competition, but have the talent, game and commitment to this year make the finals.
From the sparkling attacking play of halfback Frank Lomani, the silky skills - the one-handed pick-up in particular - of Iosefo Masi, and the rangy stride of Joseva Tamani, to name a few, the Drua were able to respond to the Crusaders' every move in Lautoka.
Their 25-24 win was made all the more remarkable by the fact they butchered two golden try-scoring opportunities while fly-half Teti Tela kicked only one conversion and missed a penalty sitter right out in front.
Thankfully, replacement Kemu Valentini held his nerve to drive the ball between the sticks after referee Brendon Pickerill had penalised the Crusaders for a ruck infringement after the final siren.
Did the Crusaders take the Drua lightly, by resting a number of frontline stars?
Given the competition structure, and the need to fulfil All Blacks rest protocols, you've got to give coach Scott Robertson the benefit of the doubt; in the likes of Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock, Braydon Ennor and Sevu Reece, the Crusaders still should have had enough quality to get the job done.
So you can only give credit to the Drua, who will now believe they can beat anyone on home soil.
Matches in either Lautoka or Suva across the remainder of the season will meanwhile be must-watch affairs for the neutral television spectator, for in a competition that is seeing more empty seats than full ones, the atmosphere in Fiji is truly something special.
STEVENSON SPARKLING AT THE BACK FOR THE CHIEFS
The Chiefs are fast firming as one of the teams to beat this season after a third straight win to start 2023.
While it wasn't the prettiest of affairs on their return to Hamilton, the Chiefs were rarely troubled by a Highlanders team that is seeing their dreadful start to 2022 repeat itself all over again.
All Blacks captain Sam Cane and utility Damian McKenzie have been among their side's best early in the season, but the standout has been fullback Shaun Stevenson who is at last enjoying a continued run in the starting side. Certainly he has been the big beneficiary of coach Clayton McMillan's decision to switch McKenzie to fly-half.
Stevenson has been superb at the back already this season and is playing a lot like McKenzie did in the No. 15 jersey, choosing when to inject himself into the backline.
He did that perfectly for the Chiefs' second try on Friday night, gliding onto a sublime flat ball from Romeka Poihipi to streak away and score over in the left-hand corner.
Then, later in the second half, he found himself on the end of a sustained Chiefs build-up for an easy run down the touchline to the right-hand corner.
As well as the two tries, Stevenson also put up the impressive attacking numbers of eight runs for 107 metres, with four clean breaks, six beaten defenders and two offloads.
His performance prompted All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams to tweet: "I don't know what else the bro needs to do to be in that @AllBlacks conversation."
After impressing in the All Blacks A matches in November last year and with genuine uncertainty around the fullback position in the run to the World Cup, Williams and many Stevenson supporters might not have to wait too long for their wishes to become reality.
GIBBON SALUTES AS REBELS GRAB FIRST WIN
Is there a better sight in rugby than a slightly rotund gentleman busting the line and scoring between the sticks? How about when you throw in a dummy for good measure?
You could barely wipe the smile off Rebels prop Matt Gibbon's face, despite the nasty cut to his lip, after he landed a vital blow on the Waratahs' comeback on Friday night at AAMI Park.
With the visitors having got themselves back into the match with two quick scores after halftime, the Rebels could have got the wobbles and slumped to a third straight defeat to start the season. But Gibbon's unlikely score quashed the visitors' rising momentum on the hour mark, with the impressive Carter Gordon icing the contest with his five-pointer four minutes later.
With the Waratahs' defensive line stretched, Gibbon took the ball right out in front of the sticks, dummied to replacement Tuaina Taii Tualima, and ran into a yawning gap between Tolu Latu and Izaia Perese to gallop off under the black dot.
The 34-27 victory was no less than the Rebels deserved either, with the hosts playing the far superior rugby at AAMI Park. While Gordon earned plenty of plaudits for his play at fly-half, centre Stacey Ili was the perfect foil with his straight running at No. 12.
Richard Hardwick also continued his stellar early season form, with Josh Kemeny, Lachie Anderson and Reece Hodge also noteworthy contributors.
NOT SO SUPER
WARATAHS SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN IN THEIR EARLY PREDICAMENT
NSW coach Darren Coleman has a growing number of issues to confront, with injury at the top of his list, ahead of a crunch two-week stretch that sees them face the Hurricanes and the Chiefs. If they lose both of those matches, and slump to 1-4 in the process, their goal of a top-four finish would be all but over; and the Waratahs could suddenly find themselves in a scrap to make the top eight altogether.
It was clear from the outset in Melbourne that NSW weren't at their best, the late withdrawal of three players from their matchday 23 certainly contributing to a lacklustre first half.
But there were no excuses for veteran winger Nemani Nadolo's poor finish in the left-hand corner after 17 minutes. Given his enormous frame and short run to the line, Nadolo should have scored when he picked up a bounce pass. But the Fijian winger failed to veer back in slightly and instead grounded his ball ever so slightly on the in-goal touchline, Rebels fullback Nick Jooste doing just enough in defence to bring about Nadolo's error.
While that decision was obvious, there was far more doubt over back-rower Langi Gleeson's disallowed try with referee Angus Gardner ruling the 21-year-old was held short of the line, before he promoted his body forward to ground the ball. Gleeson, however, felt that he wasn't tackled and therefore within his rights to crawl his way over.
Had he released the ball, got back to his feet, and then placed the ball, there would have been no doubt whatsoever.
In the end, the Waratahs paid the price for both disallowed tries and their season is already in jeopardy as a result.
FORCE-MOANA GAME AN ABSOLUTE STINKER
If you were thinking about setting aside an hour to catch up on the Western Force's win over Moana Pasifika then let us save you the hassle, it simply isn't worth your time.
Somehow, the Force are now 2-1 for the season after their 21-18 win over Moana, who looked the far more dangerous team through much of the first half in Perth on Saturday night.
But, gritty as they are, the Force were able to wear down their Pasifika opponents, even after they were reduced to 13 men inside the final 10 minutes following a yellow card to Ollie Callan and then a red to Siosifa Amone.
And when Bryce Hegarty kicked a 45-metre penalty after the siren, the Force had their second victory of the year.
But they looked completely pedestrian for much of the match, and need to find some creativity fast if they're to be any match for the far more threatening opposition that is to come.
And take our advice, you don't even need to watch the Stan Mini Match of this one. Highlights were few and far between.