While the Chiefs couldn't get their attacking game flowing, their defence shut down the Blues as they made 150 tackles and missed just 15. Photo / Getty Images
Tracey Nelson looks at the key statistics from the weekend's action where the Blues suffered a record fourth straight loss to the Chiefs while the Reds broke a 32-year drought in Dunedin.
CHIEFS v BLUES (23-16)
The Chiefs set a new franchise record with their fourth consecutive win over the Blues.
While the Chiefs couldn't get their attacking game flowing, their defence shut down the Blues as they made 150 tackles and missed just 15. Brodie Retallick and Tanerau Latimer lead the tackle count with 21 each.
Richard Kahui was in fine form at centre, and made the most metres in this game with a total of 110 from his 11 runs with the ball. He also made two linebreaks and one offload in the tackle, as well as scoring a try from a charge down.
Steven Luatua had another good performance for the Blues making 95 metres with his 10 ball carries, while Luke Braid made 52 metres with his 10 carries.
Things were pretty even at the breakdown when it came to turnovers, with both teams winning four. However, the Blues conceded four penalties for incorrect ruck entry with three of those coming from Luke Braid.
Discipline will be concerning the Chiefs coaching staff, with 11 penalties and yet another yellow card conceded in this game. The Blues conceded eight penalties, with just three conceded in the second half.
There were a high number of handling errors in this match with 11 knock-ons from the Chiefs, while the Blues made 11 knock-ons and one forward pass.
The Blues did manage to disrupt the Chiefs' lineout, with the Chiefs losing three of their 12 lineouts which included 2 not-straight throws.
Had Gareth Anscombe's try not been disallowed due to a prior ruck indiscretion by teammate Mike Fitzgerald, he would have clocked up 100 points for the season. However, he is now sitting on 95 points having landed three penalties and a conversion in this match.
HIGHLANDERS V REDS (33-34)
This was the Highlanders' first ever loss on New Zealand soil to the Reds in the history of Super Rugby, and the first win a Reds side has had in Dunedin since 1981. The five straight losses is now also officially the worst ever start to a season by a Highlanders side.
The Reds won three breakdown turnovers to just the one by the Highlanders, and made 13 offloads in the tackle compared to just eight by the home side.
The Highlanders lost three of their 15 lineout throws, with one overthrown and two stolen (Genia and Horwill). Josh Bekhuis was the main jumper for the Highlanders winning seven lineouts.
The Reds only made four handling errors in this game, with two knock ons and two pass errors. The Highlanders made nine handling errors including eight knock-ons.
This was the Reds' first four-try bonus point win for the season, and Quade Cooper converted all four tries plus landed two second half penalties to take his personal total Super Rugby points tally to 501.
Reds coach Ewen McKenzie became the most capped Super Rugby coach of all time in his 121st game, overtaking Robbie Deans. McKenzie coached the Waratahs from 2003-2008, and has been with the Reds since 2010.
HURRICANES v SOUTHERN KINGS (46-30)
This was the Hurricanes' first four-try bonus point win and their third consecutive win this season.
The Hurricanes dominated the breakdown in this game, winning seven turnovers to two along with two penalties against the Kings for the tackled player not releasing the ball in contact.
Ben May and Brad Shields scored their first Super Rugby tries, with Shields standing out with his nine carries for a gain of 61 metres as well as making 15 tackles.
Alapati Leiua got his second intercept try of the season, and was the top ball runner in this game with a gain of 160 metres from his 11 runs.
Discipline was a slight concern for the Hurricanes, as despite having 53 percent of possession they conceded 11 penalties to eight - this week only four were conceded at the breakdown, with the remainder coming from scrums, mauls, running obstruction, and two from offside play ahead of a kick.
There was a lot of kicking in the first half of this game, with both sides putting up 13 kicks from hand. Thankfully there were half as many kicks made in the second 40 minutes with eight from the Hurricanes and seven from the Kings.
The Hurricanes made 14 knock-ons in this game, and are now averaging 11 per game this season.
STORMERS v CRUSADERS (14-19)
The Crusaders continue to clock up hard fourth wins in Cape Town, with their third consecutive victory over the Stormers at Newlands.
Contesting the Stormers' lineout proved lucrative, with the Crusaders managing six steals from the 18 lineouts thrown by the home side. Sam Whitelock was in commanding form with 4 steals, while the two Lukes (Whitelock and Romano) both stole one each.
The Crusaders out-defended the Stormers by winning the breakdown battle five to one, and made 150 tackles to the Stormers' 117. The Crusaders were successful with 90 percent of their tackles, while the Stormers made 88 percent of theirs.
The Stormers had three attacking lineouts in the Crusaders' 22 in the last 10 minutes of the match. The first lineout was stolen by Sam Whitelock, while the Crusaders defended eight and 13 phases consecutively from the second and third lineouts.
Matt Todd was a deserved try scorer for the Crusaders making 87 metres with his 12 ball carries, including two linebreaks. He was also their top tackler with 18 tackles and no misses, and won a breakdown turnover.
Tyler Bleyandaal may have missed his first penalty attempt of the night, but was thereafter successful with all his kicks at goal including the all important 70th minute penalty goal that took the Crusaders out to a five point lead they never gave up.
The Crusaders made 10 knock-ons and two passing errors to the six knock-ons and two passing errors by the Stormers.