Piri Weepu was guilty of four missed tackles, including slipping off Cory Jane who scored in the first half and missing Beauden Barrett in the final moments in what was to prove to be the winning of the game for the Hurricanes.
Referee Steve Walsh only penalised the Blues three times in the match - just once in the first half and twice late in the second half. All three penalties were conceded while they were in possession of the ball.
Conversely, the Hurricanes conceded 11 penalties but had slight dominance at the breakdown winning seven turnovers to six. Faifili Levave was the standout for the Hurricanes with three breakdown steals, closely followed by Brad Shields who managed two.
The Hurricanes win over the Blues was the second time they have scored four tries in a win this season, and this round they joined the Waratahs, Bulls and Force in securing a bonus point victory.
There have only been eight bonus point wins out of the 41 games played so far this season. The Hurricanes and the Waratahs are the only two sides to have managed two bonus point wins. The one point victory by the Hurricanes is one of six single-point wins to date this season.
This loss not only cements the Blues in last place in the New Zealand conference, but it also makes them cellar dwellers on the overall Super ladder.
CRUSADERS v CHEETAHS (28-21)
Sean Maitland's first try of the season was also the first try to be scored at Christchurch's new stadium. Maitland has now scored a total of 21 Super tries.
Luke Whitelock made 11 tackles in his first start at blindside flanker for the Crusaders. He had replaced his eldest brother George, who had played a remarkable 28 games on the trot for the Crusaders until sidelined by injury.
It was the second consecutive game that Andy Ellis has been denied a try, this week getting driven over the line in a maul but out of the view of the television match official in all the replays.
Johan Goosen is fast becoming South Africa's new superboot, nailing another three penalties and a conversion in this game. He also scored his first try of the season and is the leading points scorer in the competition with a total of 81 after five rounds.
Dan Carter made his first appearance of the season off the bench, and quickly stamped his mark on the game early in the first half providing the wide pass that put Robbie Fruean in for his third try of the season. He needs just three more appearances to clock up 100 Super games.
A capacity crowd of 18,500 filled the new stadium, and they brandished an impressive 15,000 Crusaders flags that were handed out free at the gates.
BRUMBIES v HIGHLANDERS (33-26)
The Highlanders suffered their first loss of the season, and that loss allows the Chiefs to take over the lead of the New Zealand conference thanks to picking up four points for the bye this week. It now also leaves the Stormers as the only unbeaten side.
It was a bad day at the breakdown for the Highlanders, losing nine turnovers to the Brumbies with their openside flanker Michael Hooper winning four.
The Highlanders' lineout struggled in the absence of Adam Thomson, winning just 77 percent of their own ball and failing to steal any off the Brumbies.
Despite making only five handling errors in total, the first one cost the Highlanders' dearly with Tamati Ellison's offload in the tackle being intercepted for the opening try of the game. Ellison also missed three tackles.
Colin Slade landed the first succesful drop goal for a New Zealand player this season before suffering an ankle fracture in the 52nd minute of the match. It continues an unfortunate run of serious injuries for Slade, who was playing in only his seventh game in two years.
Chris Noakes replaced Slade and landed his one penalty attempt to take him to seven successful kicks for the season and maintain his 100 percent kicking record.
- For more stats go to haka.co.nz
