We're nearly a month into the new Super Rugby Pacific competition and we've already seen enough to make the broad judgements on where each of the Australian sides sit.
Certainly, the Queensland Reds and Brumbies continue to set the benchmark – as just about everyone expected they would – and their unbeaten start to 2022 only underlines this.
The Reds were clinical in getting away from the Western Force in the first half last week in Perth before fly half James O'Connor turned on a second-half masterclass to seal a comfortable win.
The Brumbies always had the NSW Waratahs' measure in Canberra and though 27-20 makes it look like the 'Tahs put up a willing fight, two tries in the last 22 minutes probably gloss over the fact the Brumbies had the game well in hand with half an hour to play.
But both the Force and Waratahs have made crucially important improvements in key aspects of their game this season and it's already fuelling a belief that their respective form lines are a bit better than their record of one win from three matches show.
That both teams are sitting in the top six doesn't hurt this belief, either.
The Melbourne Rebels, however, are in a bit of a bind at the moment, although their horrendous injury toll appears to be easing, which will make a considerable difference to the quality of the team they can put onto the field.
The Rebels were simply outplayed last week on the Sunshine Coast, becoming the first team to be defeated by the Fijian Drua, who showed that they too had learned plenty of lessons over the opening rounds.
The Rebels will welcome some of their cavalry back to face the Brumbies, with Wallabies 2021 rookie of the year Andrew Kellaway returning, and with a new contract to the end of 2024 in his back pocket to boot.
Wallabies hooker Jordan Uelese and fullback Reece Hodge also make their returns, while capped backrower Richard Hardwick has also been named for his first game of the season.
All four will make a difference to a side in which half the 23 last week had fewer than 10 games under their belt.
"We've gone through the early stages of the season with a number of our senior players unavailable, so I've been really proud of some of our younger guys who've held those positions the last few weeks," Rebels coach Kevin Foote said as he named his side.
"We know we're not far away — it's all about finishing off the moments we're creating and putting in a performance that ourselves, our partners, members and fans can be proud of."
Indeed it is, Rebels. Indeed it is.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar conceded facing the winless Rebels was the week to "freshen a few players and give others an opportunity", with Wallabies hooker Connal McInerney finally getting a run and young Tom Hooper slotting in at lock, handing Darcy Swain a weekend off.
Experienced props James Slipper and Scott Sio will swap starting and bench roles in a game many expect the Brumbies to win comfortably.
The Queensland Reds have decided facing the Fijian Drua was the week to give Jordan Petaia his shot at fullback, shuffling Jock Campbell to the wing despite being the form Australian player in that position over the first three rounds.
Petaia has long expressed a desire to play fullback at higher levels, but so far hasn't displayed much evidence that his game includes the key ingredients needed when wearing the number 15 jersey.
Additionally, backrower Fraser McReight will become the Reds' fourth captain in as many games, despite starting the season on the bench.
The Western Force has shuffled Fergus Lee-Warner from lock to the blindside flank to face NSW in Sydney, which in turn allows abrasive former All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush to return.
Off-season recruit, former Brumbies midfielder Bayley Kuenzle is back at inside centre after impressing in the opening couple of games by offering the double threat of straightening the Force attack and with the added bonus of extra playmaking ability.
"Bayley is back after the head knock a few weeks back and it's great for him to be back in the starting XV," Force coach Tim Sampson said this week.
"He showed a lot of promise throughout pre-season and in the trial game up in Brisbane."
The Waratahs certainly think they should be sitting better than they currently are, at fifth, with the recalled Will Harrison this week confidently suggesting "we probably should be 3-0".
"If you look at that Reds game, we should've beat them for sure," he said.
"Last week, it was a slow start but a strong finish, so we could definitely be three from three."
It's a bold line of thinking from the young playmaker given it took the Waratahs 63 minutes to take the lead against Queensland in round 2 and then only held it for a further six minutes.
And again, that "strong finish" last week came after the Brumbies led 24-6 until the 58th minute.
But a curious degree of confidence is better than no confidence at all.
Unfortunately, COVID has reared its ugly head again over the Tasman, with New Zealand Rugby confirming on Thursday morning that Saturday's Hurricanes-Moana Pasifika match in Wellington has had to be postponed.
The joint NZR-Hurricanes statement explained that "the Hurricanes squad did not have enough players to form a match day 23", with reports suggesting upwards of 20 Hurricanes players and staff are impacted.
The Hurricanes Poua women's side has been forced to withdraw from the opening round of NZ's inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki competition this weekend, which itself had already been delayed a week because of COVID impacts to other squads.
NZR's statement also explained that it was "very close" to confirming the rescheduling of Moana Pasifika's previous two postponed matches against the Blues and Chiefs, but a third postponement for the same team is sure to further compress possible rescheduling time frames later in the season.
Super Rugby Pacific — Round 4 (all times AEDT)
FRIDAY
- Blues v Highlanders, Albany 5:05pm
- Melbourne Rebels v Brumbies, Melbourne 7:45pm
SATURDAY
- Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, Wellington (POSTPONED)
- Crusaders v Chiefs, Christchurch 5:05pm
- Queensland Reds v Fijian Drua, Brisbane 7:45pm
SUNDAY
- NSW Waratahs v Western Force, Sydney 2:00pm
