Eight rounds into the competition and it's looking increasingly likely that a New Zealand team will finish it as champions. The only difficulty is predicting which of the Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes or Highlanders will win it.
The Kiwi teams are all in the top eight, with six points separating the competition leading Chiefs (29 points) and the seventh-placed Highlanders (23). The Crusaders and Hurricanes, on 27 and 25 points respectively, have amassed more than the second-placed Stormers (24), but due to the vagaries of the conference system, the South Africa team - who will not play any New Zealand teams in the round-robin - enjoy an elevated and privileged position.
That is an anomaly better saved for another day, but for now it's time to celebrate the Super Rugby form in this country which is thriving despite - or perhaps because of - the high of the World Cup victory in November.
Even the Blues, chronic under-achievers in recent years and who haven't won a game away from New Zealand in almost 24 months, have impressed at times. They are 11th on the table and unlikely to make the playoffs due to the excellence of their New Zealand rivals, but have improved under Tana Umaga and the statistics show they are one of the better attacking teams.
They fought back at the end against the Sharks with Rieko Ioane's converted try at Eden Park last weekend - making hard work of the win despite enjoying a huge possession advantage - but the visitors defended well and credit must go to the Blues' determination to find a way through.
