Crusaders coach Scott Robertson seems at a loss to explain how his team's exalted position atop Super Rugby has become so precarious so quickly.
The southern powerhouse, seeking their sixth straight year of Super Rugby success, had little answer for the previously woeful Waratahs on Saturday, falling behind early and unable to make up their deficit in a 24-21 defeat that evoked tears of utter joy from the long-suffering victors.
They took out last year's Super Rugby Aotearoa for their fifth consecutive title and passed unbeaten through Super Rugby Trans Tasman, only missing the final on point differential.
But already this season, they have suffered setbacks against the Chiefs, Blues and now Waratahs, sliding to third on the competition table, with a watershed encounter against top-ranked Aussies Brumbies looming in two weeks.
In fact, three losses represent the Crusaders' worst record under Robertson, who took the helm in 2017. How do they regain their mojo in the three weeks remaining before playoffs?
"It's a good question," admitted Robertson. "We'll look for the answer, to be fair.
"We had a really good week - we connected, good mindset. We know playing Aussie teams is a bit different - we know how desperate they are and they're a dogged side, the Waratahs.
"They put us under that pressure cycle that we just couldn't quite get out of and then hung on.
"How do we get better? We're going to have to have a good look at our honesty, look at weeks, look at everything really.
"It's all there, we've just got to complete some stuff."
With prop Joe Moody sidelined by injury, captain Scott Barrett suspended, and star first-five Richie Mo'unga, and loose forwards Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace rested, perhaps Robertson's solution may be as easy as having all his frontline players available on the same day.
Discipline is another area that may need addressing. After rallying to 17-14 behind midway through the second half, the Crusaders lost lock Hamish Dalzell to a red card for high tackle and almost immediately conceded a penalty try that also saw flanker Pablo Matera sent to the sideline, leaving them two men short for nine crucial minutes.
"There was a lot of simple stuff that we pride ourselves on, but didn't get right," Robertson reflected. "They got a lot of momentum.
"In the last 20 minutes, we got a lot of opportunities and still didn't finish them."
The Crusaders have a chance to bounce back, when they visit Western Force next Saturday.
Join us at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the Hurricanes v Brumbies Super Rugby Pacific clash
