Round 4 of Super Rugby Pacific produced a swag of points, two thrilling finishes and some standout performances by players pushing for Wallabies or All Blacks selection.
There were wins for the Hurricanes, Chiefs, Crusaders, Brumbies, Highlanders and Reds, with the ACT and Waikato outfits still unbeaten after four weeks of action.
Unfortunately, following another heavy loss, this time to the Brumbies, Moana Pasifika are still yet to register a win for 2023.
Read on as we review some of the Super - And Not So Super - action from Round 4.
BLUES-CRUSADERS AN EARLY NOMINATION FOR GAME OF THE YEAR
Given it was a repeat of last year's tournament decider, it should come as no surprise that the Blues and Crusaders turned on an absolute cracker at Eden Park.
Whether it was Mark Telea's early escape act, when he wriggled free of multiple defenders and then sprinted 60 to score; the sight of Nepo Laulala roaming free in the backfield; or Leicester Fainga'anuku's hat trick, there was just so much to like about this fixture in Auckland.
But the absolute pick of a brilliant bunch was Richie Mo'unga's cross-kick for Fainga'anuku's third five-pointer that the winger owed as much to his forwards as the All Blacks fly-half.
With the Blues hard on the attack, the Crusaders forwards sensed their moment at an undermanned breakdown, piled numbers in for the counter-ruck, and won possession. Lock Scott Barrett then passed the ball to Mo'unga who, under normal circumstances, would have opted for the safety of the touchline.
But sensing he might be able to turn defence into attack, Mo'unga dropped a perfect cross-kick over to Fainga'anuku from just outside his own tryline, the winger outpacing and outleaping Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the bouncing ball, before he fended off the Blues centre and ran away to score what will go down as one of the tries of the year.
On a night when Mo'unga and Barrett went head-to-head in a virtual All Blacks trial, it was the Crusaders No. 10 who came away with the points victory, albeit with a late injury scare that will have sent a shiver down Ian Foster's spine.
LONERGAN PUTTING HEAT ON WALLABIES SCRUM-HALF COHORT
If there is one position where Wallabies coach Eddie Jones is blessed with depth it is scrum-half. His predecessor Dave Rennie always made the point of how tough it was making a call at No. 9, too, with each of Nic White, Jake Gordon and Tate McDermott earning multiple starts under the Kiwi.
The unlucky man to miss out was Ryan Lonergan, who was always an addendum to Wallabies squads, such was the high regard in which he was held, but so too the recognition of the quality ahead of him.
Lonergan, however, will be putting huge pressure on Jones and his new Wallabies regime with his performances so far this season, not least of which was a 24-minute cameo against Moana Pasifika in Canberra on Saturday night.
In that time Lonergan set up one try with a clever quick tap where he passed to winger Andy Muirhead in the corner, before the scrum-half then backed up that play with a crafty 50/22 to put his side immediately back on the attack.
While the Brumbies lost that lineout, it did little to diminish Lonergan's game-awareness.
With the Waratahs struggling to start the season and the Reds also producing some indifferent early form, both Gordon and McDermott haven't had much of an opportunity to shine.
White, meanwhile, has for some time been a favourite of Jones and will likely form a key part of the Wallabies coach's plans for the run to the World Cup. If Lonergan continues to table strong contributions off the bench, or as a starter as he did the first two weeks of the season, then he too will be very tough to leave out.
FLOOK SHINES AS REDS JUST HOLD ON AT HOME
Queensland improved to 2-2 on the season despite a late comeback from Moana Pasifika on Sunday.
In a game that was eerily similar to last year's encounter between the two sides, the Drua stormed home to almost snatch the four points with two well-taken tries inside the final quarter.
Earlier, however, Reds centre Josh Flook showed his class in a stellar display at outside centre. The only blemish was his decision to opt for one hand instead of two when a third try beckoned as he chased a James O'Connor kick through just before halftime.
Speaking with Stan Sport as he left the field for halftime, Flook admonished himself for that split-second decision which cost the Reds what would have been a 19-3 lead.
But there was otherwise a lot to like about the 21-year-old's performance at outside centre and he may too yet come under consideration later this year by Jones. There is no doubt he is probably down the pecking order of outside backs, but more performances like the one on Sunday will only help to push his claims.
Nevertheless, Flook looms as a key retention target for Australian rugby in the run to 2027.
His centre partner Taj Annan also enjoyed a fine game on Sunday.
NOT SO SUPER
BLUES WILL REGRET TWO BLOWN OPPORTUNITIES
The Blues had two golden opportunities to snatch victory over the Crusaders in the dying stages of their match on Saturday night. Referee James Doleman had, in fact, awarded tries to James Tucker and Hoskins Sotutu, before they were correctly overturned for knock-ons.
Firstly, Tucker looked to have put his side in front as he rumbled over from close range, only for replays to show he had lost control of the ball in the process of grounding it.
Then, just a few minutes short of fulltime, Sotutu collected a cross-kick from Beauden Barrett and powered his way into the right-hand corner. However, again the replays revealed the ball had come loose, with Crusaders replacement Willie Heinz having done just enough in defence to force the mistake.
While both defensive plays deserved recognition, both Tucker and Sotutu should have done better to ground the ball given their size and momentum as they charged at the line.
To rub salt into the wound, the Blues' final crack at victory was then spoiled by Crusaders veteran Sam Whitelock who got on the ball at the breakdown to affect one final breakdown turnover.
FALCON SUGGESTS REDS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS
Who doesn't love a falcon?
The play by which a player wears a ball in the melon, as immortalised by rugby league warrior Mario Fenech, always elicits a laugh when it happens out in the middle.
What makes it so hilarious is that it usually happens to the kind of player with a history of comical errors, not two blokes who have played together since they were 12 years old.
That's what made Sunday's effort from Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight so surprising, with the No. 8 firing a pass straight into his flanker and great mate's melon just before halftime.
What made matters worse for the Reds was the fact that Wilson then picked up the ricochet in an offside position, the ensuing penalty immediately turning possession back over to the Drua just after Queensland had picked off lineout against the throw.
McReight appeared to indicate for Wilson to cut him out, but the No. 8 seemingly missed that gesture and instead fired the pass straight into his No. 7's head.
Given the Reds went on to win the match by three, the duo probably shared a laugh about it after fulltime. But the mistake was another indication that things just aren't clicking for the Reds so far this season.