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KEY POINTS:
In an early round of last year's Super 14, the Hurricanes were the only victorious New Zealand side. A gloomy scene for New Zealand rugby.
That scenario played out again at the weekend with the disconcerting codicil that the Hurricanes, at best, had delivered a very modest output in edging out the Highlanders.
The Chiefs' lack of set-piece prowess hurt them in a turgid defeat, the Crusaders were valiant before they were killed off in the final minute while the Blues were maimed early and never recovered. Ergo, no New Zealand side in the top four.
It is early and this competition is a marathon rather than a sprint. Teams will improve and despite the player exodus, there is still a great deal of rugby talent in the New Zealand sides. It is just that it is distributed more thinly than other seasons.
With half of the All Black squad who toured at the end of last year unavailable through the second round because of injury, paternity leave or suspension, that bites even more into the quality.
Tack on an array of five-eighths who are making their way into consistent rugby direction at this level and it is easy to see why there are struggles, why sides have yet to flow into the work.
The Crusaders might have been the best of the New Zealand sides but most of the assessment about their play in Canberra was about the quality of their defence, their heart, their courage and their tenacity.
They started without senior men Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn and Leon MacDonald and then shed Corey Flynn and Andy Ellis during the match.
Nonetheless Todd Blackadder's men converted rare chances with a Casey Laulala intercept and Ross Filipo scoring after a chargedown. For the rest of the game it seemed the Crusaders were defending.
But they were in front and looked as though they would repeat the sort of guts-and-glory win they achieved in rugged conditions at the same venue in 2000 to take the tournament title. They held out every Brumbies raid in the last 10 minutes until undone by Mark Gerard's snipe and then knocked out by Stirling Mortlock's victorious conversion.
At least, the Crusaders delivered a message of solidity and trust.
Once they shed their jitters, the Blues showed they had some attacking potency but have some defensive issues to clean up if they are going to convert their potential.
The Chiefs have alarming scrum defects which, unless stemmed, will bite heavily into their plans of making the play-offs, the Hurricanes showed an ultra-cautious gameplan and scant glimpses of the calibre said to inhabit their squad, while the Highlanders battled without claiming the profit they probably earned.
One thing should be guaranteed from New Zealand sides this week. There should be at least one victory - unless the Crusaders and Hurricanes contrive to finish with a draw in Friday's start to round three.
