The Stormers have shown why many regard them as the team to beat, putting on a defensive clinic to beat the Highlanders 21-6.
The loss was the first at the new stadium for the home side, while also only the second of the 2012 season.
It was truly a gutsy effort by the visitors, having to withstand wave after wave after attack from a Highlanders team who just wouldn't go away.
But they showed their class and held the Highlanders tryless, while also managing to make the most of their chances, both of which turned out to be the difference between the two teams. To make this even more impressive, this came off the back of a long flight from South Africa earlier in the week.
It wasn't as if the Highlanders played poorly by any means, they were just beaten by a better, more organised team on the day.
If there was to be one negative it was the impatience that crept into their game at times. It seemed after spending time building a good platform an aimless kick would be made to give the ball back to the Stormers, undoing all the good work. While it's frustrating to be an attacking team and seemingly not breaking the line, it's important to stay patient and trust that eventually a gap will appear or a penalty will be conceded.
The Aaron Smith box kick that led to the Joe Pietersen try was an example of this, as was the Phil Burleigh cross kick in the second half. Both were low percentage plays and made it look as though they didn't know what else to do with it.
Being patient has been something this Highlanders team has done so well this season, but last night against a good defence, panic began to creep into their game in a way that was reminiscent of the Highlanders teams from the mid to late 2000's.
Kicking isn't necessarily a bad option. In some cases it is the best thing to do, particularly when deep inside one's own half. But kicks need to be intelligent. Either kicking long into gaps for field position, or so that you can compete for it.
Not doing this just gives the ball back to the other team, giving them the chance to attack and also depriving you the chance to attack. There was too much of this last night, but then this was the result of the outstanding Stormers' defence.
Despite this, the Highlanders did run plenty of ball at their foe, making some breaks but never quite getting over the line. The midfield was particularly dangerous here but the Stormers scrambled well and made sure the outsides didn't get the chance to finish.
The forwards competed at breakdown time and certainly gained parity in this department. The tight five all gave solid efforts around the park, but the set piece did struggle at times, with the lineout in particular being upset on multiple occasions.
The loose forward trio operated well too, with James Haskell having by far and away his best game in a Highlanders jersey, while Adam Thomson and Nasi Manu both gave what has come to be expected of them.
But at the end of the day, it just wasn't enough. They say defence wins games and judging by last night's performance, that's only too true for a Stormers team who can now firmly claim to be the team to beat.