A fresh looking Super Rugby introduces fan-friendly initiatives and a simplified finals system so what are the five main things we learnt from the draw?
The Crusaders secured a big 52-26 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday - but it still might not be enough to secure a place in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final.
In a major step for Pacific Island rugby, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Druahave been granted conditional licences to join a planned new competition next year.
The Western Force secured an unlikely 16-15 victory over the Rebels at AAMI Park on Saturday, as the Rebels were made to pay the ultimate price for their lack of killer instinct.
The Queensland Reds made it six wins from six in this season's Super Rugby AU competition with a comprehensive 44-19 victory over the Rebels in Melbourne on Saturday.