On a weekend when the Blues usurped the Hurricanes atop the Super Rugby Pacific table, the wayward Crusaders have still - incredibly - not fallen from playoff contention.
The defending champions sufffered their ninth defeat of the season, dropping the southern derby against the Highlanders, but are still only three points away from the top eight.
"The Crusaders should be nowhere near the playoff conversation, but this is Super Rugby and in a 12-team competition where eight go through to the playoffs, they do remain in the hunt," said Newshub rugby reporter Ollie Ritchie. "It's quite unbelievable, I know, with just two wins.
"To put that in context, last year, the Reds finished in eighth place with five wins. The year before that, the Highlanders finished eighth with just four wins.
"With three games still to go in the regular season, if the Crusaders can pick up two, probably three wins from those matches, they will remain in the hunt for a playoff spot."
Meanwhile, the Blues and Hurricanes put on the game of the season, and no-one could quibble with a rematch in the final.
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