The NSW Waratahs are losing touch with the Super Rugby Pacific frontrunners after falling 12-10 to their bogey side the Blues in an ugly encounter in Sydney.
The Brumbies have won a see-sawing battle against the Highlanders with the ACT side continuing to find their Super Rugby Pacific form with a 27-21 victory in Dunedin.
The Western Force's finals hopes are already dangling by a thread after they slumped to a 22-14 Super Rugby Pacific loss to Moana Pasifika at HBF Park.
The Crusaders' start to the Super Rugby Pacific season has gone from poor to unprecedented with their fourth straight loss, a 14-10 home defeat by the Wellington-based Hurricanes.