The stats don't lie: Week five review

Isaia Toeava made a couple of linebreaks against the Hurricanes on Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

Two local derbies this weekend saw both victors clock up over 40 points and get bonus point wins as the Blues moved to second and the Crusaders to first place in the New Zealand Super Conference.

BLUES v HURRICANES

- With possession and territory fairly evenly matched there were just three points separating the teams in this game until the 64th minute when Hurricanes captain Andrew Hore was sinbinned for a slapping the ball down while in a ruck in his own 22. In the last 16 minutes the Blues piled on a further 21 points to win 41- 17, scoring five tries to one.

- Penalties were evenly shared, with both sides penalised 10 times. The Blues conceded seven breakdown penalties while the Hurricanes conceded six.

- Luke McAlister was successful with four from six kicks at goal, replacement Lachie Munro landed three from three conversions when he came on. Dan Kirkpatrick only kicked four from eight for the Hurricanes, missing three penalties and a conversion.

- The Blues won 14/15 of their lineout throws with All Blacks Anthony Boric (6/6) and Jerome Kaino (5/5) their primary jumpers.

- The Hurricanes won 5/8 of their lineouts, and Victor Vito took the one lineout steal of the game.

- Linebreaks aplenty in this match with eight from both sides. Top linebreaker was Stephen Brett with three, while Isaia Toeava, Julian Savea, Conrad Smith and Ma'a Nonu all made two each.

- Not many breakdown turnovers in this game, just two won by the Hurricanes and one by the Blues.

- Ma'a Nonu, Andrew Hore and Tony Woodcock all racked up their 100th Super Rugby game in this match.

HIGHLANDERS v CRUSADERS

- The Highlanders could have been leading at half time had Tony Brown kicked more than two of his six penalty attempts at goal

- Dan Carter kicked 5/8 in this game (two penalties and three conversions), while Robbie Robinson missed one penalty but kicked a conversion for the Highlanders in the second half. Matt Berquist landed one from two conversions when he replaced Carter

- Possession was evenly shared, but the Crusaders had 60 percent of territory and spent 10 minutes in the opposition 22, while the Highlanders only had six minutes.

- The breakdown told the story of this game, with the Crusaders winning 10 turnovers to the Highlanders' four. King of the Breakdown in recent weeks Adam Thomson was kept out of the game by the Crusaders' pack, while Matt Todd and Cory Flynn won two breakdown turnovers for the Crusaders.

- The Crusaders also made more linebreaks than the Highlanders, leading this stat seven to four.

- Offloads in the tackle were also telling with Sonny Bill Williams making four in this game, contributing to three of the Crusaders' six tries.

- Sam Whitelock earned his side's first yellow card, getting sent to the bin just before halftime. However, the Crusaders kept the Highlanders scoreless during his spell off the field and actually scored two penalties and a try during this time.

OTHER STATS

- In an error-ridden match in Hamilton on Friday night the Chiefs managed to tip up the unbeaten Sharks in a tryless encounter 15-9.

- The Stormers are now the only unbeaten side after an away win against the Bulls in Pretoria.