The stats don't lie: Semifinal preview

Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane, pictured, were the danger men the last time the Reds played the Blues. Photo / Getty Images

And then there were four. This week both the Blues and Crusaders travel off-shore to play their respective semi-finals against the Reds and Stormers. So far this season 53 percent of games have been won by the home side.

REDS v BLUES

- This was a high scoring affair back in Round 13, with both sides scoring four tries but better goal kicking seeing the Reds take the win 37-31.

- The Reds got off to an absolute flier in that game with their first try to Quade Cooper coming in the fourth minute, and by the 30 minute mark they were up 24-0. The Blues mounted a great comeback, and a try to Rene Ranger and a sideline conversion by Luke McAlister two minutes after the fulltime hooter had blown managed to get them a two bonus points from the loss.

- Quade Cooper and Digby Ioane were the danger men for the Reds that day, with Cooper making three linebreaks, three offloads, 120 running metres, scoring a try and landing 100 percent of his goal kicks.

- Ioane made five linebreaks, three offloads and a huge 169 running metres against the Blues, and will be making his comeback from injury this weekend.

- Stephen Brett and Joe Rokocoko made the most running metres for the Blues, with 118 metres each. Top linebreaker for the Blues was Rene Ranger with three.

- With both Quade Cooper and Stephen Brett having missed 38 tackles each this season, all eyes will be on their defence this weekend.

- The Blues struggled with their handling that day, throwing two forward passes and knocking the ball on ten times.

- Watch the lineout battle with the Reds' James Horwill and Scott Higginbotham up against Ali Williams. Horwill and Higginbotham have won a total of 94 lineouts for the Reds this season, while Ali Williams has won 55 but is without injured locking partner Anthony Boric (48 wins) this week. Williams has stolen eight opposition throws to date.

- The Blues last semifinal outing was in 2007, and they have appeared in a total of five semifinal games winning all but one of them (losing to the Sharks in 2007).

- The last time the Reds played in a semifinal was back in 2001 when they lost to the Brumbies. Prior to that they lost a home semifinal to the Crusaders in 1999. That year was the only time the two away sides won through to the final, with the Highlanders beating the Stormers in Cape Town.

STORMERS v CRUSADERS

- These two sides met in Cape Town in Round 12 and the Crusaders won 20-14.

- It was a remarkable win given the Crusaders lost Israel Dagg, Sean Maitland, Kahn Fotuali'i and Adam Whitelock to injury in the first half, resulting in flanker Matt Todd having to play 45 minutes as a back. The Crusaders were also without Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Brad Thorn, Sam Whitelock and Andy Ellis that day.

- Crusaders conceded their highest number of penalties this season in that match with a total of 14, including a yellow card in the last minute of the game.

- The hero was Wyatt Crockett who scored both the Crusaders' tries that day and also made 21 tackles. Overall the Crusaders made a staggering 195 tackles in that Round 12 game.

- Despite not having their first choice locking pair, the Crusaders still took three steals off the Stormers lineout.

- Sonny Bill Williams had a field day with the offloads, making four and setting up both tries. He also made a total of 85 running metres. To date he has made 51 offloads in the tackle.

- The Stormers made the semifinals last year and hosted the Waratahs whom they beat 25-6 to go through to the final where they lost to the Bulls. In total the Stormers have played in three semifinals, with just the one win.

- The Crusaders have made the semifinals on 12 occasions and won all but three of those games. They have not missed out on playing in the semifinals since 2001. The Crusaders have won 11 of the 16 games played between the two sides.

- Corey Flynn will play his 100th game for the Crusaders.

Check more stats at haka.co.nz

- HERALD ONLINE