The Highlanders, who have the bye this week, have experienced a nightmare start to the season, which not even the most pessimistic of supporters would have predicted.
They have lost every one of their first eight games, a record for a New Zealand side, and adding the three losses which ended last season, they have racked up 11 losses in a row.
It was not what anyone was thinking when coach Jamie Joseph assembled his All Black-laden side at the start of the season.
Joseph admitted on Saturday night, after the 24-8 loss to the Crusaders in Christchurch, the playoffs were long gone and it was now about honesty and playing for pride for the rest of the season.
''I think the team realises that our goals and aspiration of getting to the playoffs are well and truly over. Integrity and character is obviously what we are playing for now,'' Joseph said.
''No-one is more disappointed than the 22 who played the match today, and the ones who are sitting at home. The ones who will be hurting the most are the ones who are injured and can't play.
''But we get a week off now and I think it is a good time for the boys to go away.''
On Saturday night, the Highlanders were on the back foot all game, facing a strong wind in the first half and having a lineout which was in dysfunctional mode the whole game.
Joseph said a lack of attacking ball hurt the side.
''Looking at the players, in terms of going out there to the best of their ability, I would give them 10 out of 10. Obviously our set piece was under pressure so attack-wise it was very hard to achieve anything. We had to live off the scraps.
''I think the team was quite courageous on defence. You couldn't kick out of that half because of the conditions.
''That try going into halftime really hurt us.''
The Highlanders tried to come back into the game in the second half after being 16-0 down and scored a try early in the second half, but a faltering set piece scuttled any chance of a first win.
There was again too much sloppy ball-handling, and one wonders how the Crusaders tight five could dominate a Highlanders team which included three All Blacks who played in the 2011 World Cup final.
They now have their second bye - picking up four points - and the players have a week off. They will come together at the end of the week to start planning for the game against the Sharks at Forsyth Barr Stadium on May 4.
Centre Tamati Ellison is pencilled in for a return and his inclusion will be a boost to the side, not least for the man inside him, Ma'a Nonu.
Nonu did little wrong on Saturday but he has been roundly criticised in this first half of the season, which Joseph finds puzzling.
''I think what Ma'a will say is, it goes with the territory. But to me, it is incredibly unfair. Poor guy, really. He plays and gives effort for the team yet everyone expects him to score tries for the team. To me, it really disrespects the opposition we are playing.''
In other games at the weekend, the Hurricanes beat the Force 22-16 in Wellington, and the Waratahs beat the Chiefs 25-20 in Sydney.
The Reds and Brumbies, who lead the competition ladder, fought out a 19-19 draw in Brisbane, the Cheetahs beat the Sharks 12-6 in the rain in Durban, and the Kings were smashed 34-0 at home by the Bulls.
