Super Rugby is only 3 weeks old but it is clear that the Chiefs are still the team to beat as they continued from where they left off last season with 2 wins out of 2 against their toughest rivals from their own country.
Make no mistake, the two wins the Chiefs scored against the Crusaders and Highlanders were well-earned as they had to soak up intense pressure from two quality sides. The game in Hamilton against the Highlanders was particularly impressive for Dave Rennie's men as they weren't really at their best and had to battle from 19-14 behind to win their first game at home for the season.
The Highlanders are a much improved and exciting side this season and it's no shame losing 21-19 to the reigning champions even if they probably should have won but for some indiscipline. The prospects for this season are good for the franchise from the Deep South as long as Chris King, Ben Smith, John Hardie, Joe Wheeler, Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa etc. can stay fit and they now have several games at home after next week's bye week.
For the Chiefs though, they still showed their class in the forwards and the backs and just about managed to come up top at the death with Aaron Cruden again highly impressive at pivot and Robbie Fruean electric until he pulled up with injury. They still appear to be the team to beat from New Zealand and in Super Rugby at this early stage with the sort of depth and ability to mould talented bit players into a star team that made the likes of the Crusaders, Bulls, Brumbies and Reds Super Rugby champions - Jamie Mackintosh will be hoping the Dave Rennie treatment will catapult his All Black career back into the fast lane.
Just up State Highway 1, the Blues showed that their season did in fact start 40 minutes into their game in Dunedin against the Highlanders as they clawed back a 17-3 deficit against the Crusaders to win 35-24. Simon Hickey was impressive in his first Super Rugby game at first five, helped by the electric form of his All Blacks teammates, Francis Saiili, Charles Piutau and Frank Halai and fellow youngster, Tevita Li. The Blues will be thereabouts if they can get some momentum and consistency.
Outside New Zealand, it appears the Waratahs could be the team to beat from our nearest neighbours with an impressive thrashing of their fiercest rivals, the Reds on Saturday night.
The Rebels also showed plenty of flair in their Friday night win against the Cheetahs - their first game of the season. Without troublemakers, Beale and O'Connor now, the Rebels could finally break away from the bottom and finally challenge the Reds, Waratahs and Brumbies for relevancy in the Australian conference.
The Bulls also got their season off at last too with a tight win over a Lions side that has surprised many with its flying start. At this rate, it is going to be quite hard to pick who will have to play against the Southern Kings for their Super Rugby lives next season - just as well for the expansion to 17 teams from 2016.
Here are the highlights from the other games -
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