The Blues' Super Rugby winning run is over, with the Chiefs taking out a breathtaking contest in Hamilton on Saturday night.
After four wins on the bounce, the Blues were handed a 33-29 defeat at FMG Stadium Waikato, despite the hosts losing Damian McKenzie to a leg injury early in the second half.
It turned into a thrilling contest for the 14,977 in attendance, in a tit-for-tat second half where the Blues just wouldn't say die. The collisions were typically fierce and the action blood-rushing.
A double to Ma'a Nonu in the end wasn't enough, as the Chiefs scored five tries to four - a double of his own from openside flanker Lachlan Boshier - to make it now a 15-game undefeated run against the Blues.
A big concern out of the match for the Chiefs, and more, will be McKenzie's limping from the park in the first minute of the second half though, after the fullback dived at Blues first five-eighth Otere Black and came up with an injury to his right knee.
It turned into one heck of a second half, after the Chiefs took a 14-10 lead to the break, then eventually got the job done, to continue their winning ways post their bye.
Under the pump early, it was Brad Weber who put the home side ahead against the run of play, courtesy of a well-taken intercept near halfway, with the nippy halfback snaffling a James Parsons inside ball and scooting under the sticks.
Aside from that, the Chiefs were living off no ball, and were in all sorts at scrum time, as Angus Ta'avao's switch to loosehead got off to a an inauspicious start.
Up against All Blacks team-mate and former Super Rugby comrade Ofa Tuungafasi, Ta'avao was pinged three times in succession for dropping his bind, and by only the 15th minute, referee Angus Gardner had to issue a warning his way.
It was sink or swim time right there, with the Blues of course opting for an attacking scrum from the ensuing penalty. Ta'avao held strong, the Blues were forced to shift it, the ball was knocked on, and from there the pressure valve was released.
With some ball to use, the Chiefs sparked into life, and following a long patient buildup, they extended their lead in the 25th minute via a burrowing Boshier, off the back of some beautiful McKenzie footwork.
All the momentum was suddenly the home side's way, and 14-3 should have become 17-3 but for a badly missed McKenzie penalty from in front.
It opened the door for a late Blues surge before the break, and, after a lengthy delay for a sidestepping streaker, the visitors were indeed able to find the hit-back they desperately needed.