Highlanders v Blues - The Hard Numbers

Ben Smith has dotted down eight times in his last eight outings against The Blues, which includes four in his last three games against them. But what else do the numbers say?

• The Highlanders have won eight of their last 11 games against the Blues, and will be looking for a third consecutive win against them for the first time since 2003.
• The Blues have been defeated in each of their last five away games against the Highlanders; however, they’ve picked up three losing bonus points in that span.
• The last time the Highlanders opened a Super Rugby campaign with a victory was in 2014, when they picked up a 29-21 win at home against the Blues.
• The Blues have now gone 11 games without a win against New Zealand opposition (D1, L10), their longest ever drought against their countrymen.