With the Super Rugby quarter-finalists now decided we take a look at those teams who missed out. Next up, the Sunwolves who finished 17th.
Two wins and 12 points is a slight improvement on last season when they won just one fixture, but there are still frailties in this squad.
They leaked 44 more points than in 2016 as they were regularly put away by their opponents, with 96 tries being conceded a worrying number.
However they did show glimpses of quality and out wide they have exciting wings in Shota Emi and Kenki Fukuoka, who need to see more ball.
They began the season with a 83-17 defeat at home to the champion Hurricanes and then followed four more losses before they beat the Bulls in a 21-20 home win. The Crusaders brought them back down to earth with a bump in the next round for the start of eight straight defeats.
But papering over the cracks somewhat was their final outing, at home to the Blues, with the majority expecting another negative. However, the Sunwolves rallied particularly in the second-half to claim a 48-21 success that at least sends them into the off-season on a positive.
Filo Tiatia will know there is a great deal of work to be done before 2018's campaign rolls around and sharpening up their defence remains a must, as at times especially during the late-season games they were passive and teams capitalised. At this level there's no hiding place.
Playing at a frenetic pace is of course a style this team wants to be known for though and if they can keep building and the likes of Derek Carpenter and Harumichi Tatekawa stay fit at centre and Willie Britz and Sam Wykes up front, they have a spine to build around. The work starts now.
Best player: Kenki Fukuoka is our pick while full-back Kotaro Matsushima and number eight Willie Britz are not far behind. The wing was a threat every time he touched the ball and despite his lack of size, he caused opponents plenty of bother with his elusiveness. 656 metres from his nine Super Rugby games this year and at just 24 years of age he has plenty of promise still ahead of him. Four tries this season.
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