Rugby: How losing Kaino and Piutau will hurt the Blues

Jerome Kaino has made the fourth-most carries of any Kiwi loose forward. Photo / Getty Images

The Blues will likely be without loose forward Jerome Kaino (hand) and utility back Charles Piutau (knee) for the rest of the season, so let's look, from a statistical point of view, at how damaging their absences will be.

Kaino gets through a power of work at the back of the scrum and had played the fourth-most minutes of any New Zealand loose forward this season behind only Brad Shields, Brendon O'Connor and Sam Cane.

Kaino has also made the fourth-most carries of any Kiwi loose forward.

He has made four clean breaks, beaten 13 defenders and produced 13 offloads, ranking highly in all of those categories.

Kaino has also scored three tries, the equal-most of any New Zealand loose forward.

The 32-year-old has made three lineout steals, trailing only Shields and Chiefs player Michael Leitch.

Piutau, 23, who will join Irish club Ulster next year, has been a constant threat in the backs for the Blues this year. He has made the most carries in the competition (105) of any New Zealand player - in any position.

And he ranks fourth in metres gained with 708, behind only Highlanders wing Waisake Naholo (855), Julian Savea (746) and Chiefs back James Lowe (745).

Piutau has also beaten 31 defenders, which is good enough for fifth in the competition and behind only Savea (34) and Naholo (33) among Kiwi players. With 15 offloads this season, Piutau has made the 13th-most in the competition.

It all goes to show that Blues coach John Kirwan has some notable holes to fill as his side look to add some respectability to their campaign.

On the subject of offloads, Chiefs midfielder Sonny Bill Williams has joined Waratahs fullback Israel Folau at the top of the pops with 27 this season.

The Hurricanes showed in their win over the Crusaders on Saturday how dangerous a team can be when they promote the ball at pace as they racked up four tries during their 29-23 win.

One of their most influential players this season has been fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder, who announced yesterday he had re-signed with the Hurricanes until the end of 2017. The Manawatu 24-year-old averages 10.2m per carry, the second-most among all fullbacks in Super Rugby. He also averages 3.3 defenders beaten per game, which is the third-best mark.

One more thing
Goal-kicking continues to dog New Zealand players. Crusaders pivot Colin Slade missed two penalties during his side's loss to the Hurricanes on Saturday night, which could have swung the contest considering they lost by only six points.

Chiefs youngster Damian McKenzie also missed a late conversion that could have helped his side avoid a 16-15 defeat to the Rebels in Melbourne last weekend.

By the numbers

2.5

Crusaders lead Super Rugby in lineout steals with 2.5 per game.

171

The Crusaders average the most passes of any team in the competition with 171.

12.2

Penalties conceded by the Chiefs per outing.

22.5

The Sharks miss the most tackles per game with 22.5 and, worryingly for them, they're playing the Hurricanes on Saturday who beat the most defenders per match with 22.7.

994

Bulls back Jessie Kriel is closing in on becoming the first player to carry the ball for 1000m this season.