Luke Braid led his troops from the front making the most tackles in the game with 16, while Ma'a Nonu made 12 runs averaging seven metres each time.
Adam Thomson was the top ball running forward in this game with a total of 13, and he averaged five metres of ground gained per run. He also won three lineouts, two for his team and one stolen off Ali Williams.
Hosea Gear made three clean linebreaks, the first coming from a scrum set piece move that eventuated in Shaun Treeby's try. Gear has made nine linebreaks this season.
This was the first win the Highlanders have had over the Blues since 2006, and it has taken them 10 matches in which to do so. Despite this loss the Blues still have a 68 percent winning record against the Highlanders.
The Highlanders have now beaten all the other New Zealand sides so far this season, but the wins have all been close with no victory greater than four points.
HURRICANES v CRUSADERS (14-42)
Dan Carter celebrated his 100th game by scoring a try, and boasts an 83 percent winning record against the Hurricanes having only ever once been in a losing side. He has scored a total of 145 points in the 12 games he has played against them.
The Crusaders pulled the same set piece move as the Highlanders did for their first try of the night (the only difference being the Crusaders' scrum feed was ten metres further back), with Zac Guildford making the linebreak to put Kieran Read over the line. In total the Crusaders made seven linebreaks to the Hurricanes' five.
Victor Vito made three linebreaks in his total of 16 runs with the ball for a total of 86 metres gained, and he also made ten tackles.
Andre Taylor made the other two linebreaks for the Hurricanes, and scored his sixth try of the season to put him in top equal place with the Chiefs' Sona Taumololo and the Bulls' Bjorn Basson for tries scored.
The Crusaders' starting pack made a staggering 148 tackles between them, with Matt Todd again top tackler in the match with a total of 24. Todd is averaging 17 tackles per game so far this season.
Beauden Barrett's first conversion of the night saw him clock up 100 points and made him the third player to do so this season behind the Cheetah's Johan Goosen and the Bulls' Morne Steyn. He is the 20th New Zealand player to achieve 100 Super points.
It was the first time this season the Crusaders have scored a bonus point for four or more tries, and it has taken them until Round 9 to have scored more tries than they have conceded.
SHARKS v CHIEFS (12-18)
The Chiefs' defensive efforts paid off as they forced the Sharks into making eighteen handling errors. The Chiefs made 130 tackles in this game and missed just 20.
Sam Cane was the top tackler in this match making 19, and he averaged just over five metres per carry with his ten ball runs.
Sonny Bill Williams had a case of butter-fingers in this game, making an uncharacteristic four knock-ons and a forward pass. But he did make the most running metres for his team with eighty five in total from his eleven runs.
The Chiefs nailed their lineouts yet again, this week running at 100 percent with Brodie Retallick their go-to man taking six of their 11 throws.
The Chiefs only made three linebreaks in this game but two resulted in tries - the first to Aaron Cruden and the second to reserve halfback Augustine Pulu who scored his first Super try.
Aaron Cruden's converted try saw him become the fourth player to pass 100 points this season, and he ended the game on 108 points to leapfrog Beauden Barrett as the top New Zealand points scorer.
It was the second time this season the Chiefs have kept their opposition try-less (also against the Force) and they have the best defensive record for tries conceded with their line being crossed just eight times.
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