The introduction of golden point laws has all but extinguished the possibility of a stalemate, but there was one in Perth on Saturday night.
A 17-17 draw — the first in the competition in five years — between the Western Force and the Hurricanes left neither side feeling particularly happy.
The Force, with genuine hopes of finishing in the top three and earning a home playoff game, did not want to drop points at home, while the Hurricanes — limping along but still very much in the playoff hunt — need to start winning.
Both sides had chances to win the game in extra time.
Hurricanes playmaker Ruben Love got himself into a position to kick a winning drop goal, but it clanked off the upright.
The Canes started well, scoring the opening try, but the Force fired back to take a 14-5 lead at halftime.
There was an odd moment when Hurricanes fullback Callum Harkin, who had just scored and converted a nice try, made a genuinely bizarre decision to try an infield pass with the try begging, and the ball was turned over.
The Hurricanes led 17-14 with two minutes to play when Force first five Ben Donaldson held his nerve to land a 45m penalty and send the game to sudden death.
Donaldson had another chance off the tee from distance during golden-point time, but it drifted to the left.
The Force are fifth but now face the difficult trip to Hamilton to play the Chiefs — ask the Highlanders, and they will tell you it is not much fun — while the Hurricanes hop up to seventh but might struggle against the Brumbies in Canberra in the next round.
The Brumbies blanked Moana Pasifika 24-0 in Pukekohe on Saturday, meaning a relatively clear top three has formed with the Chiefs and Crusaders tied on 32 points, and the Brumbies hovering on 28.
The Reds (23), Force (22) and Waratahs (21), beaten 28-14 by the Drua in Lautoka, round out the top six.
Highlanders fans still have hope, as their lads are ninth on 17 points, just four off a playoff spot, but a reminder their last five games include the Crusaders (twice), the Chiefs and the Hurricanes.
