As the Super rugby season heads past the halfway mark and All Black selection is just around the corner, rugby writer Steve Hepburn picks a form XV from the five New Zealand sides.
Fullback
There has been one main man in this equation and that is Chiefs dynamo Damian McKenzie.
He may look like a flyweight but he is playing like a heavyweight. Very quick and brave like few others.
Ben Smith has been his usual consistent self without reaching the highs of last year.
Israel Dagg has made an impressive return but let's not get too carried away, unlike some commentators.
Wingers
Injuries have seen a couple of the likely lads - Nehe Milner-Skudder and Waisake Naholo - disappear.
Rieko Ioane is a player of some promise, can run very quickly and has some skills.
Cory Jane has struggled to see much ball, while Tevita Li has plenty of gas but not a lot else.
Julian Savea obviously ate too much of the wedding cake at his nuptials in the off-season but has come back well.
Patrick Osborne has a couple of injury niggles which appear to be affecting him.
Johnny McNicholl is off to Wales and has never kicked on.
Centre
Malakai Fekitoa has started every game for the Highlanders and defended well.
He does not get a lot of room in the Highlanders midfield but makes the gain line when he gets the ball.
Rene Ranger was average for the Blues before injury ended his season.
Seta Tamanivalu is a hard ball-runner but there are not many other strings to his bow.
Kieron Fonotia is headed for a black jersey - the Ospreys one that is, where he has signed for next season.
A solid Super rugby player and that is about where it ends.
Second five-eighth
All of a sudden Piers Francis is the best back in Auckland, which does not say much for rugby in the city of sails.
Charlie Ngatai is a classy player. Looks to have plenty of time and can spot a gap.
Ryan Crotty is dependable as ever and, with Wayne Smith in the coaching mix, is bound to get an All Black call-up.
George Moala had worked hard but it is not happening for him this year.
Hurricanes man Ngani Laumape is reliable without showing too much flair.
Rob Thompson has been a mixed bag for the Highlanders.
First five-eighth
All of the contenders here have come up to the mark.
Aaron Cruden is playing soundly after coming back from serious injury, while Beauden Barrett enjoys the more loose structure of Super rugby.
Lima Sopoaga has not fallen off the high standards he set last year, though would be good to put more into his running game.
Ihaia West and Richie Mo'unga are well back from these three.
Halfback
Aaron Smith is still the number one. He clears the ball better than anyone and kicks well.
Trailing his dust by some distance is Brad Weber, with TJ Perenara next best.
Tawera Kerr-Barlow has been dogged by injury and Andy Ellis is starting to show some sign of wear and tear.
No 8
Liam Squire is turning heads for the Highlanders while Victor Vito is also looking good for the Hurricanes.
Steven Luatua is trying hard for the Blues but is he just a lock in a smaller body?
Kieran Read has been building slowly and still pops up in the right places.
Flankers
Sam Cane has been one of the few ever-presents for the Chiefs and got through a power of work.
Ardie Savea is another who is making plenty of impact.
Matt Todd was slow out of the blocks but is getting into his work.
Youngster Blake Gibson from the Blues impressed before getting injured.
On the other side there is little between many of them.
Jordan Taufua has worked hard for the Crusaders and makes metres with the ball in hand.
But then so do most of them. Defensive work is more vital on the blindside and Elliot Dixon has been making plenty of tackles.
Lock
Brodie Retallick has missed a fair part of the season, while Sam Whitelock has played well for the Crusaders.
Hurricanes lock Michael Fatialofa is a different man than the rather ineffective anonymous second-rower who used to play for Southland.
The Highlanders have four locks, all who have put in good efforts.
Tom Franklin has been working hard around the field and running the Highlanders lineout.
Props
Owen Franks has taken a visit to the fountain of youth and is getting round the field with much more speed than previously.
There is something about Joe Moody which is just not that eye-catching. Ditto Wyatt Crockett.
Jeffery Toomaga-Allen is solid for the Hurricanes and doing well in the scrums.
Reggie Goodes is delivering for the for the mob from Wellington.
Hooker
Dane Coles continues to impress with his speed around the paddock and his lineout throwing is bang on.
Codie Taylor is actually playing, so we can all see why and how he wore the black jersey last year.
It is a solid if not earth-shattering portfolio of work.
Enter journeyman into a rugby dictionary and the name of James Parsons will emerge.
There is still no love for Liam Coltman at a national level and now injury has got in the way.
Form XV
Damian McKenzie, Rieko Ioane, Malakai Fekitoa, Charlie Ngatai, Julian Savea, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Sam Cane, Jordan Taufua, Michael Fatialofa, Tom Franklin, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Reggie Coles.
