The Chiefs have ended Australia's last chance in Super Rugby Pacific with a 46-24 win over the Queensland Reds.
The Reds had a late first-half lead, but the Chiefs' class prevailed in wet and wild conditions.
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So what did we learn?
The winless streak for Australian teams in New Zealand finals continues, as the Reds went down swinging.
It was a valiant effort, but ultimately proved why home advantage is so crucial in Super Rugby.
The result leaves an all-New Zealand semi-final, with the Brumbies thumped in Wellington.
The only bright spot for the Wallabies is the chance for a host of Test hopefuls to freshen up before the July series.
With the record now 0-23, there’s a fair case to make about the correlation between this number and Australian teams conceding right before and after halftime.
The call to go for three to put the Reds up with six to go in the break was the right one, but what followed is what cost them.
They messed up the sack at lineout, putting them under penalty pressure and when they did turn the Chiefs over, they threw it over the in-goal for a five metre scrum. There’s only so much defending you can do against the Chiefs and the hosts made them pay to wrestle back momentum down a player.
Damian McKenzie then caught them napping from a quick tap and suddenly the lead was a distant thought.
The difference for the Chiefs was their red-hot defence, which looms as their key towards an elusive title push.
Even in a big win, they managed basically the same amount of tackles as the Reds, with the standout play being a 23-phase stand before dumping Treyvon Pritchard into touch.
They have the firepower to match anyone but the key for them is their brick wall defence, which was on full display earlier in the year in their Super Point win over the Hurricanes.
Wallace Sititi’s concussion was a brutal and uncomfortable reminder of the realities of contact sport and the risks the players take each game.
The number eight was left shaking on the ground, going off second best thanks to a head clash after a shot that slipped up from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.
The lock would sit for ten minutes, despite the TMO eventually ruling that the injury was down to the head clash, not his tackle. The number eight eventually worked his way back to his feet, stretchered from the field.
Thoughts go out to the number eight, who must take time off after this hit.
One of the big takeaways from this year for the Reds will be the development of Fraser McReight as a captain.
The flanker’s game has only lifted with his added responsibility, constantly looming as a breakdown threat whilst creating their first try with a great break and aerobatic re-gather.
But his game management keeps improving, making sure the high shot on Josh Flook didn’t go unpunished, slowly the game enough for TMO intervention.
It helps having the likes of Tate McDermott and Harry Wilson there for added support, but McReight looms as the leader of the future for the Reds.
