The stats don't lie: Week 15 review

The Hurricanes missed ten tackles in the first half. Photo / Getty Images

Just one win for the three New Zealand teams in action this week.

While the Hurricanes managed a bonus point win over the Force, the Highlanders lost to the Lions and dropped out of the top six while the Crusaders lost a tight game in Brisbane but still maintain fourth place overall.

HURRICANES v FORCE (34-28)

- The Hurricanes missed ten tackles in the first half to allow the Force to score two tries and jump out to an eight point lead at halftime.

- Handling errors were again a problem for the Hurriances, with eight knock ons and three spilled balls.

- Plenty of linebreaks with Nonu and Cruden both making two in the Hurricanes' overall tally of eight.

- The Hurricanes lineout was 100% this week, with Victor Vito the go-to man yet again with five takes.

- For the third game in a row discipline was good for the Hurricanes, conceding just six penalties.

- In the final three minutes of play the Hurricanes withstood 17 phases of play in their own 22 to hold out for the win.

- He may have slipped off a couple of tackles in this game, but Aaron Cruden was the point of difference for the Hurricanes making two linebreaks and three offloads in the tackle, two of which set up the last two Hurricanes tries. He was also 100% with the boot kicking two penalties and four conversions for a personal tally of 14 to take him to 72 points for the season.

HIGHLANDERS v LIONS (22-26)

- Despite leading 16-9 at halftime the Highlanders will rue this game as one they let slip, and it may well cost them a chance at the play offs as they fall out of the top six on the back of this loss.

- A 37th minute missed touch finder from a penalty by Lima Sopaoaga gave the Lions the chance to counter attack from near half way and despite having won turnovers at the breakdown eight times in the game, the Highlanders could not stop the Lions from scoring the winning try.

- Sopoaga had a good night with the goal kicking boot missing just one penalty from six attempts, and also slotting the conversion of the Highlanders' sole try.

- Handling errors cost the Highlanders at times, with six knock ons in the first half and three in the second.

- The Highlanders made five clean linebreaks, with Ben Smith again showing his skills with a superb run in the first half.

- Jarred Hoeata was the main lineout winner for the Highlanders taking five of his six throws. However, two not-straight calls against Jason Rutledge did not help the Highlanders'cause in the second half.

- Just eight penalties conceded by the Highlanders this week, with five coming at the breakdown.

REDS v CRUSADERS (17-16)

- Richie McCaw will be kicking himself for giving away a 78th minute penalty that cost the Crusaders the win in Brisbane, although plenty of controversy is raging over the penalty for use of hands in the ruck after the Crusaders had counter-rucked over and beyond the ball.

- Quade Cooper didn't set the world on fire with his goal kicking, ending up with just a 50% success rate on the night. He had missed three previous penalty attempts, but kicked the winning penalty goal from 23 metres out.

- Dan Carter kicked three penalties from four attempts and one conversion. He was astray with a drop goal midway through the second half.

- The Crusaders dominated the set piece, winning a tighthead and stealing two throws off the Reds'lineout. Their own lineout was 100%.

- The Crusaders conceded eleven penalties to the Reds' five. Chief culprit was Richie McCaw, who conceded three breakdown penalties. The Crusaders were given a team warning in the 35th minute of the game for indiscretions at the breakdown.

- The breakdown was strongly contested with the Crusaders winning four turnovers but conceding three themselves.

- Sonny Bill Williams was heavily marked in this game and his offload game was effectively shut down by the Reds.

- Not a great night for the officials with at least four forward passes and two obvious knock-ons missed during the match.

- Suncorp Stadium was a sell out for this game, the 51 500 crowd far surpassing the previous Australian record of 42 000 for attendence at a Super Rugby match.

- Despite losing this game, the Crusaders took a bonus point from it to remain fourth overall. They are five points behind the Blues who remain the New Zealand conference leader.

Further NZ player stats can be found at Haka.co.nz

- HERALD ONLINE