More evidence of the unsustainability of the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition is obvious from the news that Crusaders David Havili and Ethan Blackadder are out for the remainder of the competition.
Two rounds of inter-franchise competition, forget about this 'club' nonsense, are about the absolute limit for the playing resources of the country.
It is all very well having the best players going up against each other for 10 weeks, but it has been knocking the living daylights out of them in the process.
Compounding the situation for the Crusaders is that they already have their captain and lock Scott Barrett, and tyro blindside flanker Cullen Grace on the sidelines for the rest of the season.
But the Crusaders are not alone. All other sides have been talking about how long it takes for teams to recover after games, and that is only going to take longer the further into the competition sides go.
Yes, it has been a fillip for a nation down on its rugby diet during lockdown, but the costs have been high.
Havili, who earlier in the season had an operation for a stomach issue, now has a broken thumb. Blackadder, who had a delayed start to the season recovering from shoulder surgery, can now add a knee operation to his medical file.
Havili is a loss both from a leadership and a versatility role. A vice-captain he can fit anywhere in the backline, apart from halfback.
Team-mate and second five-eighths Jack Goodhue summed his loss up when saying: "He's been in awesome form, playing some of his best rugby, busting tackles, creating things. And his leadership has been huge, he is a big talker, good communicator, and he always says what needs to be said."
Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan said: "It's a shame for them. They have both got a lot of respect in the group and were both looking forward to this next block, but it's been taken from them."
Tom Sanders is regarded as the most likely option to fill the blindside flanker berth in the wake of the loss of Grace and Blackadder.
But in the face of the disappointment, Ryan was confident the Crusaders could cope.
"We're going to be tested now with our depth, but we trust everyone, and we back everyone to do a job," he said.