The NSW Waratahs were no match for the Chiefs as the hosts delivered an impressive 42-14 victory.
The Chiefs were suffocating across the park, pouncing on a plethora of mistakes and turnovers for a bonus point win that keeps them inside the top three.
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So what did we learn?
Quinn Tupaea is the red-hot favourite to be Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year after another starring performance.
The co-leader will poll big after a highly influential performance in the midfield, scoring twice and looking like a constant threat whenever he was near the ball.
He’s been a constant point-scorer, and with the votes set to go behind closed doors after round 10, expect Tupaea to be firmly in the lead when they do.
The Waratahs will be desperately looking forward to the bye ahead of a crucial month of fixtures.
They were caught one out too often, allowing the Chiefs to build pressure and control the contest for the victory.
It leaves them at least four points outside the top six halfway through the season (with one game to come), with some tough away fixtures still to come.
This includes trips to Christchurch to open the new stadium and Super Round, Lautoka and Perth.
The Waratahs have shown they can win away from home in tough places, but they’ll need to nab some big scalps if they wish to be playing finals.
Max Jorgensen’s try-scoring reel is one of the best in the world, so it’s easy to forget how good he is around the park in general play.
He pulled off a textbook try-saver on Emoni Narawa to dump him into touch close to the line, while the cut-out ball to Sid Harvey for his try was spectacular.
He’s constantly on the move from sideline-to-sideline and keeps growing into his game.
He’ll be vital to their second half of the season, with fellow Wallabies star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii likely back in the next 2-3 weeks.
Samipeni Finau delivered a perfect reminder of his quality as he sent a message to Test selectors.
The back-rower was abrasive across the park, delivering a thumping hit on Siosifa Amone, one of the best of the year.
He backed that up with a well deserved try as Finau kept pumping the ball over the gain-line.
The entire Chiefs pack was dominant, with Josh Lord and Tupou Vaa’i excellent in the second row.
The Waratahs were guilty of gifting the Chiefs too many chances to attack and build pressure in the first half.
They struggled with their handling and scrum and found themselves camped inside their half for a significant period.
In total, the visitors conceded six turnovers in the first 17 minutes, not including Sid Harvey’s air-swing for the opener, while they were pinged at least three times (short and full arm) for scrum infringements.
To beat the Chiefs in Hamilton you need to be perfect, with the Waratahs punished as a result.
