For the last 18 months South Africans had to listen to boredom about the ‘boring rugby’ they play, but Super rugby statistics at the half-way stage of the competition suggests it is in fact the Antipodean teams that does most of the playing, WITHOUT the ball.
When I started out with this column the point was to highlight how a team’s attitude can be measured by looking at their defense.
It had (still has) specific bearing on the Lions team trying to establish just what type of ‘attitude’ exists in the camp and how this relates to their on-field results.
Many coaches will tell you that defense and tackling is first and foremost an attitude an individual and team has, and secondly, skills and systems.
You can coach a team and individual the latest skills and techniques in tackling, and implement the best defensive systems, but if that team or individuals in the team does not have the right attitude to go out and show some balls, it is effectively useless.
With the Lions it seems to be a thing that has been coming for a long time, who can forget Tim Lane apparently telling Lions management when asked what assistance he needed to turn the Lions season around while on tour; “Send me 15 guys that can #$%$^*@ tackle!”.
But as I browsed the defensive statistics I noticed something very strange…
A lot has been said of South African teams’ inability, or preference to play ‘without’ the ball and banking on opposition mistakes to score points.
A tell-tale sign of playing without the ball, is of course looking at how many tackles a team has to make in a game when they of course, do not have the ball.
The numbers are fascinating…
Whilst Antipodean teams are far better in their execution of defense (tackle success ratio’s), there is some daylight between the amount of tackles South African Super rugby teams are making on average per game (not having the ball in hand) compared to that of the top Antipodean teams.
This in turn suggests that South African teams, on average, have far more possession of the ball and not only possession, but ball-in-hand (running) possession given the amount of tackles the Antipodean teams make on average per game.
The exception to the rule here is the Stormers, who average there and there about with the Antipodean teams – but with that it is also interesting to note that the Stormers are known to have the best defense in the competition thus far, and actually build their play around defense and defensive structures rather than attacking rugby.
All the South African teams combined makes on average 113 tackles per game. Important to note here is that the Stormers, with an average of 129 tackles per game heavily inflates this figure.
Individual averages are;
Bulls: 101 per game
Cheetahs: 118 per game
Lions: 109 per game
Sharks: 110 per game
Stormers: 129 per game
The top Antipodean teams (Crusaders, Chiefs, Waratahs and Brumbies) in comparison make on average, a combined 134 tackles on average per game.
Individual averages are;
Crusaders: 127 per game
Waratahs: 140 per game
Brumbies: 126 per game
Chiefs: 143 per game
So why do you only see two South Africa teams at the top of the log then you might ask?
Well the answer is simpler than you think, all of the Antipodean teams on average only misses 10% of their tackles, meaning they have an A+ average or complete close to, or over 90% of their tackles successfully, whereas South African teams most successful teams (Stormers and Sharks) average an 86% completion rate and the rest, miss just about 20% of all their tackles (that is one in every 5 tackles where the Antipodean teams miss 1 in every 10)…
So even though this proves that the top Antipodean teams are better defenders than the South Africans, it also proves they have to do a hell of a lot more of it than the Saffa’s which to my mind, puts this myth of South Africans preferring playing ‘without the ball’ to rest.
(Statistics from Verusco)
Pienkste,
Always thought Lambie was originally a FH, after reading Puma’s post I see your point.
Originally Goode was only earmarked for the tour, but now it seems they want him for the home leg, but struggling with his work permit. Think Straeuli was hoping to get someone else at FH….not sure what the plan is, at this stage Pienaar will have to take the bullet.
Seems we’re the Blog addicts….or rugby addicts….probably both. 🙂
5 mins have surely passed by now……
Puma, how big is that coffee you’re brewing?
Pienkste,
Now where are you hiding woooooooooooman… 😆
Here I am…
Just poured myself an Irish coffee aswell…
60 – Fires, I read the last time he played FH was at U15’s. He got injured lost his place and when he came back played at FB since then. So that is what I know. Not 100% sure but that is what I read just this week.
Sharky knows more. Where is he these days? He keeps us up to date a lot.
65 – Blouste, Well I still have not got that coffee. Now going to get it. Wish it was a Irish Coffee too…..hahaha. Have the Whisky for it but not the cream…. Will just have a decafe coffee. Boring..lol. Back in 5min.
63 – Fires, Going now to get that coffee……hahaha
Try the normal deccaf with a touch of whiskey… 😉
Eish,
Time is flying by, that way the rugby comes faster…..yahoooo, I once again love the weekends.
Even as a Sharks supporter… 😆
Pienkste,
It’s not that bad being a Sharks supporter, at least when we lose we do it in style, unlike those poor Lions, that’s not even fun to watch. I bet the Lions supporters cancelled their dstv subscriptions by now….shame
@ 72 😆
Ja, dit moet swaar wees jong !!!
Maar ek was ook al daar 🙁
Sorry back now with the coffee. Was also blogging on Voldy.
70 – I do too Fires, Always enjoy the weekends especially this time of year when the rugby is on.
72 – Sharks will be back 😎 We have a much better team than the log is showing right now. 😀
Yes Puma…
Sharks will be bac in sa soon… 😉
Fark… back
He he he
Hey, did my antaganistic jokes chase you guys away now… 😆
“o”….
78 – Blouste, I am here but no Irish Coffee….hehehe. Needed it after that but decafe on its own will have to do….. 😆
76 – Blouste……hahaha Next week against the Reds. Damn why did we not get a bye for next week. WE have just been on a monster tour. Really they players need a rest. Only after the Reds game. Pity wish it was after we came back.
Told you, try the touch of whiskey…
61 – Fires, See Goode wont do the home leg. Well that is in the papers. Goode is also struggling with a hamstring injury now. So think that will be him back to Europe. Pienaar will have to take over.
82 – Blouste…….hahahaha. Should have just had the coffee. Hell some people 😯
Ok, guys…
I’m off.
Enjoy the rest of your evening…
85 – Cheers Blouste, I am out of here too. Catch up tomorrow.
Puma and Blouste
Sure…not a problem with the moaning.
Lets watch closely and se who will moan come this time next year. 😆
@ 87 Wallabie
😆
We’ll see…
By the way, why do your Aussie S14 teams do so poor… ? 😆
Blouste
Are you saying that the Bulls are South Africa???
There are a few RSA teams that are doing poorly…have you checked?
89 – Walla, Howzit mate, What you think Brumbies or Chiefs this weekend?
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