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)

196 Responses to The Antipodean myth of running rugby

  • 121

    119 – Wez, He was very good. Had him for my inside centre for S14 team of last week.

    Have to see how he plays when you play the Blues. Some really good centres there. Ranger though plays outside centre. I think he is world class that Ranger. One of the best centres I have seen in a very long, long time.

  • 122

    @ 119

    Whats your take on the Stormers leaving Cronje at home ?

    @ 120 Puma

    Eishh, tours are difficult, but I hope you’re right.
    I’m confident still 🙂

  • 123

    Lionel needs to control his temper. I think his exclusion is just punishment for his behavior. But The moment the Stormers lose grant the tries will dry up. Like the cheetahs game proved.

  • 124

    @ 123 Wezwp

    I understand that but he served his sentence, I think the Stormers would’ve been better off taken him on your.
    He would’ve gained experience and probably confidence that money can’t buy…

    Investment in the teams future imo…

  • 125

    Stormers are playn well but to say they are world beaters is just the same as diagnosing premature ejaculation.

    The guy thinks he is doing well but the truth is he is finished before the deed is done!!

  • 126

    He shouldv started against the cheetahs in The first place i really dont know why The Stormers management choose to be so conservative.

  • 127

    @ 125 😆

    Hope that was’nt explained to you by a doctor… 😯

  • 128

    The Bulls are showing strains in their gme now.

    They look like they will get to the semis but doing on I suspect what will eventuate is this.

    The Crusaders will play the bulls at the end of the round robin and lose they will find out they have to play the stormers in one semi. Then beat the stormers and then go to Waratah/brumby land to play the final as either of the aus side will beat the bulls at loftus in the other semi.
    If that does not happen the crusaders will play in loftus and win.

  • 129

    Blouste

    I am taking medication!!

  • 130

    @ 126

    It’s almost as if they don’t want to put enough trust in their youngsters, yet they have chosen de Jongh and Whitehead…

  • 131

    @ 129 😆

  • 132

    128 – Walla 😯 😯

    Okay picks are in. See plenty have picked the Cheetahs. Surprise as I was going to until Blouste told me not too 😯 😯

    See two idiots have chosen the Force to beat the Bulls. Now that deserves 3 of these. 😯 😯 😯 and then 🙄 🙄 What were they thinking??

  • 133

    The Vodacom Bulls team doctor, Org Strauss, writes the following in a daily update for http://www.bluebull.co.za Hi there, We arrived in Perth on Wednesday afternoon at 13h30 and after a long struggle with all our baggage through customs, left for our hotel. We stay at the Holiday Inn, Burswood.
    It is close to the central district of Perth and the WACA cricket stadium. Here are some nice eateries and a casino as well.

    After the boys checked into their hotel rooms, they had a short video session and then a light work-out at a nearby school, Wesley College.

    Fourie (du Preez) had his birthday (yesterday) and after training we all got together at the hotel. We shared a drink with him and had some cake.

    In the evening some of the guys played poker. Today we have the day off, so some will be strolling around the city, while other players will tackle the local golf course.

    We will chat again soon!

    Interesting, couple of days off, effectively.

    And happy happy Fourie !!!

  • 134

    @ 132 Puma

    If the Reds win, I will tell you – told you…

    If not, I’ll just skip blogging for a few days 😆

  • 135

    I got the Lions and the Sharks to lose this weekend…those Canes will not be happy after their trip to the republic and the Lions…well they are always happy according to Muir.

  • 136

    #134

    I also have the cheetahs for a win, I am telling you, no matter how good Quade Cooper is, it’s gonna take more than one or two fancy kicks to get past those Bloemfontein bliksems, I think their defense is almost as aggressive as ours.

  • 137

    see the reports says..”Muir eyes first Lions win”…

    Now where have I heard that before… 😕

  • 138

    Bulls are in for a nasty surprise…eating cake, playing golf, playing poker etc etc.

    Do they know why they are in Perth?

  • 139

    Blouste

    That eyeing…what peep hole are they eyeing the win through…the poephole!!

  • 140

    @ 139 😆

    Whats your take on the Cheetahs/Reds game…

    Reds travelled..?!

  • 141

    @ 138

    Why?

    They are only playing an Aussie bottom of the log team… 😆

  • 142

    Blouste

    If Muir just read RT, and followed some of my more sinister advice he’d have had his first win a long time ago…

  • 143

    Blouste

    They would be fat and rolling.

    You know what the bulle are like after stepping off the plane.

  • 144

    #140 Blouste

    If you ask me – and I know you didn’t! – I’m more than a little worried about the Cheetahs growing list of injuries. You can’t keep losing your best players and just hope that the new guys fit in.

  • 145

  • 146

    Wobbly – I’m just kidding. Don’t think it will be an easy game. Force a bit of a bogey team for the Bulls.
    Did’nt play to badly last week either, if the Tahs are anything to go by…

    @ 144

    fender – Injuries a great concern for the Cheetahs at the moment. Wonder if they’ve got the right mindset still…?

  • 147

    #146

    I think that both the Tahs and the Force were crap…

  • 148

    134 – Yeah, Blouste you better, cause you changed my mind from picking Cheetahs……… 😀

  • 149

    Blouste 140

    Travel could be an issue.

    If the cheetahs play the forwards then it will be close.

    BUT..

    Why the Reds are winning is not entirely Cooper and Genia…its their forwards who are the unsung heroes.

    Cooper and Genia are playing awesome because of their forwards…everyone says starve the ball to them but noone has taken notice thats its their forwards who are giving them great ball.

    When people think of Aussie forwards we think of Robinson, Pocock, waugh, alexander etc but noone even knows who the forwards of the reds, not even me, but theyare klapping.

    In a nutshell if travel is not a factor and I dont always like to use this…it will be the Reds!.

  • 150

    143 – Walla, Agree there 😀 Why the Bulls taking off so much time. When will they get in some training? 🙄

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