Damian McKenzie's irresistible running game saw him top the Kiwi 1st5R ratings for week 15 in a win against the Bulls in Rotorua.
The Chiefs young gun has proven he is the man to lead the Chiefs into the playoffs with Aaron Cruden out injured, beating fellow first-five hopefuls Andrew Horrell and Marty McKenzie to the No 10 jersey.
The younger McKenzie scored an impressive 62.33 1st5R in Friday night's victory with his ability to find gaps, beat defenders and run like the wind helping his cause.
The 1st5R formula, created by Stephen Ryan, factors in linebreaks made and assisted, tries scored and assisted, defenders beaten, running metres per carry, tackling success, turnovers and goal kicking, while also taking into account minutes played and number of touches.
A rating of 51 is an above par performance, with the scale running from 0 to 100.
Of the 14 first-five performances rated this week, nine players finished above the 50 point mark.
Four of those were Kiwi first-fives, led by McKenzie.
McKenzie ran for 149-metres on 21 carries on Friday night, one of the highest marks of the Super Rugby season.
In three matches as a first-five McKenzie is averaging 101.3 running metres per game, the most of any first-five this year.
He also assisted on a try on Friday night, but his rating would have been much higher if he had better decision making at the end of his lengthy runs, something coach Dave Rennie has noted time after time.
McKenzie now has a 60.74 1st5R for the season, a mark that is remarkable given his youth and inexperience.
Another young gun was New Zealand's second best first-five in week 15, with Hurricanes pivot Otere Black getting his first start of the year.
Black scored a 54.86 1st5R in the Hurricanes' win over the Blues in Auckland, storming the Eden Park fortress and humiliating the hosts.
It was Black's defence, kicking and mistake-free play which gave him a good score, making 11 from 11 tackles, kicking all but one goal and never turning the ball over.
Daniel Carter scored 52.56 in a loss against the Waratahs, having stepped in at first-five after Colin Slade went off, while Lima Sopoaga scored 51.30 in a win against the Force in Perth.
Ihaia West was the lowest scoring first-five of the round, scoring a 30.45 1st5R for the hapless Blues.
Rebels playmaker Jack Debreczeni was the top first-five in week 15, scoring a 62.88 1st5R in a loss in South Africa.
Colin Slade and Beauden Barrett remain the top first-fives in Super Rugby this year, hovering just below the 70 mark.
