As the Super 15 moves into its final round, rugby writer Steve Hepburn looks back on who and what has stood out in the past 112 games.
Best player
There have been some impressive individuals running around, although it really has been team efforts which have won more games than individuals. Plenty of fullbacks have played well - Ben Smith, Israel Dagg and Kurtley Beale, who has also wandered into first five-eighth. No winger has really stood out. Centre Robbie Fruean started off like a house on fire but is now resembling a damp squib.
Sharks loose forward Willem Alberts also had a great start to the competition as did Adam Thomson. Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis shows what John Smit used to be like. The Franks brothers have anchored the best scrum in the competition.
James O'Connor has looked the goods for the Force side but overall it would be hard to go past Reds inside back duo Quade Cooper and Will Genia.
Cooper has slotted the goals when needed, made the passes and is great to watch.
Whether he can do it at the next level is the big question.
Most disappointing player
Some players have not even been sighted in the whole competition. Others have tried hard all season but it has just not gone their way.
The Rebels will finish bottom of the competition and, when your star player can not tackle and appears to have the backbone of a crook jellyfish, then you know you are in trouble.
The ash cloud can not clear quickly enough for the Rebels to give Danny Cipriani the on- way ticket home. Plenty more will follow him out the door, including the defence coach, although if you watch them, you would wonder if they have one.
Daniel Braid has had his season ruined by injury, as has Colin Slade.
Isaac Ross had proved Steve Hansen correct while we are all still waiting for the emergence of Tyler Bleyendaal.
Cory Jane has never got going and Julian Savea has clearly shown scoring bucketfuls of tries at junior level is no indication of success at Super rugby.
Pierre Spies looks a shadow of his former self, while Juan Smith had a season to forget getting injured early on.
Best game
Hard to top the match between the Reds and the Crusaders in Brisbane although the officiating was a blight on the game.
The Bulls-Stormers clash last weekend was also a top encounter and had a thrilling finish.
The Sharks' disposing of the Rebels right near the end was also exciting.
Most games involving the Cheetahs and the Lions were eye-catching because the teams moved the ball, although not always with any accuracy.
And also their games were played predominantly in good weather.
Worst game
What is it about Hamilton and rugby ?
Every time this year when a match was scheduled the heavens seemed to open and a dreary mistake-ridden match would follow.
That Blues-Chiefs match in the river city instantly became a cure for insomnia.
In fact, most of the average games in the entire competition were played in New Zealand as they were played on cold, dewy nights.
Best referee
Craig Joubert, by some distance, with Glen Jackson showing some promise.
Worst referee
Get in line, there are plenty of candidates. It would be fair to say this is not a golden era of officiating.
If Stu Dickinson can be touching nearly 100 games in the middle at this level it does not say much for the standard of whistle-blowers. An honourable mention to Chris Pollock for a truly poor effort at Carisbrook.
Prediction
The top six should be: Reds, Stormers, Crusaders, Blues, Bulls and Waratahs.
The Crusaders should then beat the Stormers in Cape Town while the Reds will be too good for the Blues.
The Reds and the Crusaders in Brisbane in the final.
Too close to call.
