The stats don't lie: Super 15 week three in review

Robbie Fruean crossed the line twice and made three line breaks for the Crusaders. Photo / Getty Images

Four New Zealand teams played this round and all four emerged victorious, with the Crusaders the only side not to take maximum points from their game.

Key match: CRUSADERS v WARATAHS (33-18)

The Crusaders found themselves behind 6-13 after 24 minutes of this game, but a blistering 15 minutes of play before half time saw them score 20 points thanks to two tries by Robbie Fruean and a flawless display of goal kicking by Dan Carter. A try two minutes after half time to Sonny Bill Williams, making his Super Rugby debut, took the Crusaders out to a 33-13 lead and this was to be the last of their scoring while the Waratahs managed a consolation try four minutes from full time.

- Dan Carter was 100 percent accurate with the boot, kicking three conversions and four penalties while the Waratahs only landed one from five kicks at goal.

- The Crusaders made a total of 16 clean line breaks in this game, with Robbie Fruean and George Whitelock top contributors with three each. Matt Todd and Dan Carter each made two line breaks.

- As well as his three line breaks Robbie Fruean scored two tries (the first being a solo effort from an intercept)

- Sonny Bill Williams had a mixed Super debut, with his first three touches of the ball resulting in spilled passes. But it was his solo line break early in the second half that resulted in him scoring the Crusaders' third try and he also managed two offloads in the tackle to create line breaks for other players.

- Brad Thorn was the top lineout jumper taking 5/5, while George Whitelock took 2/2 and Chris Jack 1/1. Kieran Read took the only lineout steal off the Waratahs when they were attacking in the Crusaders'22 in the final quarter of the game. The Crusaders did not use Sam Whitelock as a jumping option.

- The Crusaders turned over possession 23 times, 19 of which were handling errors. 10 of those handling errors occurred in the last quarter of the game. In comparison the Waratahs turned over possession 20 times, with a total of 11 handling errors.

- The Crusaders won five breakdown turnovers, with openside flanker Matt Todd claiming two of them.

- A total of 12 penalties were conceded by the Crusaders, with eight coming at the breakdown. They only conceded two penalties in the first half. The Waratahs conceded nine penalties, eight of which were at the breakdown.

OTHER GAMES AT A GLANCE

Lions v Blues (32-41)

- Despite only having 40 percent of the possession the Blues scored five tries to take maximum points against the Lions

- Luke McAlister was 100 percent with the boot, kicking four conversions, a penalty and a drop goal. Stephen Brett was successful with his sole conversion.

- The Blues conceded 10 penalties, made 122 tackles and only missed 16.

Chiefs v Rebels (38-10)

- The Chiefs first win of the 2011 Super competition was also their first win at Waikato Stadium since 2009

- Lelia Masaga's second try in the final minutes of the game gave the Chiefs their fourth try of the match and a bonus point win

- Stephen Donald succeeded with seven from nine attempts at goal

Bulls v Highlanders (28-35)

- The Highlanders pulled off the upset of the round beating the Bulls with a bonus point try, and breaking the Bulls' 18-match winning streak in Pretoria that stretches back to 2008

- Veteran Tony Brown took the field just before halftime and was 100 percent successful with the boot kicking one penalty and three conversions

- Kade Poki scored two tries to be top-equal NZ try scorer on three tries along with the Chiefs' Lelia Masaga

- The Highlanders top the New Zealand conference and join the Sharks as the only two unbeaten teams in the competiton

- HERALD ONLINE