Ireland won a Triple Crown and won four out of five games but players and fans alike were left disappointed as standards dropped
Round Three of the Six Nations delivered in spades as Wales looked reborn, France put on a show and England laboured to an unlikely win
The injection of Shaun Stevenson into the Kubota Spears has seen them win their last four games. Also, with experienced North Harbour halfback Bryn Hall in the Spears squad, the Spears' Kiwi contingent is growing.
Wales were thrashed 43-0 by France in their Six Nations opener as they suffered a 13th successive Test defeat.
How has the French game and its culture crafted such a brilliant vintage of petits generals?
For a man of that size, you imagine every pre-season is a tortuous existence but it sounds like the recent months preparing with the Chiefs have been right up the giant row’s street.
There were a lot of positives to carry on going into a much harder proposition in six days when they play Ireland at the Aviva on Friday.
No longer are the All Blacks and Black Ferns blowing teams away with ruthless attack.
The Argentine pivot fits his team's style and structure far better than his illustrious All Blacks peer.