Well it is now time for reflection and hopefully the emotions have settled down a little. I thought it would be interesting to look at the match statistics and see what can be taken from them.

These statistics courtesy of scrum.com

Kicks from hand, SA 27, NZ 17 Passes, SA 75, NZ 170

Runs SA 69, NZ 114

Meters ran, SA 217, NZ 592

Clean breaks, SA 2, NZ 0

Defenders beaten, SA 8, NZ 5

Offloads, SA 4, NZ 11

Rucks, SA 64, NZ 90

Turnovers conceded, SA 11, NZ 13

Tackles made, SA 134, NZ 68

Tackles missed SA 5, NZ 8

Scrums, SA won 8, lost 1, NZ won 7

Line outs, SA won 5 lost 2, NZ won 7 lost 2.

Penalties conceded, SA 9, NZ 10

Statistics of the South African half back pairing.

From the base of the ruck, Hougaardt played the ball 53 teams kicking 10, passing 38 times and running 5 times. Morne Steyn handled the ball 23 times and kicked 10, passed 11 and ran twice. Januarie came on late in the second half and only made one tackle, not sure how correct that is.

So in total the South African half back pairing handled the ball 76 times between them, kicking 20 passing 49 times and running 7 times.

Statistics of the All Black half back pairing.

Cowan handled the ball 41 times, kicking 2, passing 36 and running 3 times Carter handled the ball 45 times, kicking 7 times, passing 30 times and running 8 times. Weepu who came on in the second half handled the ball 46 times, kicking 3 times, passing 39 times and running 4 times.

So overall the NZ halfback pairings handled the ball 132 times, kicking 12 times, passing 105 times and running 15 times.

What me must take in consideration is that territory belonged to the All Blacks and there were very few defensive kicks on their side, whereas the South Africans spent quite a bit of time in their own 22, albeit not with much ball in hand.

Overall the SA halfback pairings kicked 26% of their possession and the All Blacks a mere 9% of their possession.

This is a statistic I am not too unhappy about, it did show some improvement in variation from the South Africans and percentage wise 26% is not all that much if you take in consideration they were camped in their half quite often. It does show to me that there were much more intent on running the ball as to previous tests and with more possession and field position they can be dangerous.

What does concern me however, is still the lack of ball out wide, the Springbok back line excluding the half backs only handled the ball 30 times, whereas the All Black back line handled the ball 101 times.

The South African forwards handled the ball 60 times, that is twice as many times as the backs. The All Black forwards on the other hand handled the ball 65 times.

So looking at the balance of play, SA apart from their half backs play the ball with their forwards 66% of the time and the All Black forwards play the ball 40% of the time.

The problem I see with this statistic is that the close encounter attacks with your forwards will mainly set up rucks and little go forward ball but this is where defences are traditionally strongest and to find the gaps, create angled running etc, you need your back line.

Things are improving, but there is still ways to go for SA, they need their backline to get at least 50% of the ball, and allow them some room to create. Juan de Jongh and Gio Aplon has played a strong defensive match, but with no ball in hand, they cannot create play as we believe they should.

The fact is Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen and Gio Aplon is not the worst back line players out there, but they need ball to prove it.

Question is, if you bring Frans Steyn back, will he just add to the kicking or will he bring creativity?

Lastly I was impressed with the passion and verocity that the South Africans tackled, yes at the end we missed tackles and lost the game, but for 75 minutes it was a great spectacle and gives me hope after the disappointment of the Antipodes.

67 Responses to Match statistics SA vs NZ

  • 31

    ok ouens
    ek gaan gou eers besig wees vir ñ tyd
    chee’s vi ee’s
    praat hopelik later weer!!

  • 32

    29@ biltongbek:
    Julle vergeet gerieflikheidshalwe wat Morné Steyn se aandeel was by die Bulle in die Super 14 op aanval….

    Hy is ook maar net tans beperk deur die Game Plan wat vereis word van hom, of laat ek eerder sê afgeforseer word op hom.

  • 33

    @ grootblousmile:27 – Gbs, He will get better only 19 years old. But is is class buddy. Also he kicked well the past weekend. Only got the kicking duties this CC he will be better for sure. But as a playing flyhalf is is doing the business. Our backs are playing really well with him there.

  • 34

    @ Ashley:31 – Cheers Ash, Me too have to do some work. Back later.

    Cheers all. Catch up later.

  • 35

    33@ Puma:
    When he’s better at goal kicking, then we’ll talk…. he bends the ball far further than Beckham does, very bad kicking style…

    Place him in a Game Plan which forces him, like Mornê has been forced, to kick more… then we’ll talk about attack as well….

  • 36

    @ Puma:
    Look, Habana just needs to be dropped and explained in no uncertain terms that his work rate is not good enough, that he is not focused on the teams plans and then he should go back to currie Cup and prove himself once again.

    I understand he is frustrated, he is not getting the ball, but a wing should still look for work, but be smart about it, he breaks the defensive line regularly and then creates pressure for the cover defense.

    Now what he has been doing these last few games, is try for the intercept 10 meters from our line, and there no cover defender will ever be in time to stop the runners.

  • 37

    Before I go, see Brussow is having another op next Tuesday. So he wont be in the eoyt. Pity. Hope he comes back strong in the S15 next year.

    All the Best. H. Brussow. Boks need you fit and well for the world cup next year.

    Now out of here. Catch up later.

  • 38

    @ grootblousmile:35 – hahaha. Think you worried he is knocking on the door of Morne 😉 He will be our flyhalf after 2011. Mark my words he will be.

    @ biltongbek:36 – Bek, Have to agree with you there totally.

    Okay back later. Cheers everyone.

  • 39

    @ grootblousmile:
    Ek se nie ons moet ontslae raak van Morne nie, hy is vir ons baie werd.

    Maar wat ek (sit vloekwoord in) glad nie verstaan nie is dat ons annhoudend bal besit wegskop, nou of dit PDV en sy trawante is wat se ons moet dit doen, en of Morne nou n’ klein bietjie leeway het om die game te less en sy eie besluite te neem weet ek nie.

    Maar die basiese beginsel van rugby bly dieselfde, as jy nie die bal het nie, kan jy nie score nie, en as die opposisie die bal het is jy onder druk.

  • 40

    38@ Puma:
    Last year you all sang Morné’s praises….. how quickly one forgets…

    This year Morné Steyn was the consumate Super 14 flyhalf, scoring tries, causing tries…. helping the Bulls score the most tries in the Super 14.

    Now he’s suddenly not up to it, not the flavour of the month??

    Careful that the same does not happen or is said of Lambie!

    The boy has talent, don’t squander it.

  • 41

    Francois Hougard for president!!

  • 42

    Sipho’s sister was pregnant and was in a bad car accident, which caused
    her
    to fall into a deep coma. After nearly six months, she awakens and sees
    that
    she is no longer pregnant. Frantically, she asks the doctor about her
    baby.

    The doctor replies” Ma’am, you had twins – a boy and a girl. The babies
    are fine. Your brother came in and named them. The woman thinks to herself,
    “Oh no! Not Sipho; He’s an idiot!” Expecting the worst, she asks the doctor

    “Well what’s the girl’s name?” “Denise,” the doctor answers.

    The new mother thinks.” Wow that’s a beautiful name! I guess I was wrong
    about my brother. I really like that name Denise.” Then she asks the
    doctor,

    ” What’s the boy’s name?” The doctor replies. “Denephew.”

  • 43

    “australia had more than 50 of the possession, and proved that the All Blacks are as fallable as any other team.”

    Biltong, is this the game in wellington? for as I can recall, although Aust had the lions share of possession, there was only 3 points scored in the second half? That would suggest to me that the ABs defense wasnt as fallible as you make out?

  • 44

    @ nga puhi:
    sorry let me clarify, the wallabies didn’t score due to Giteau being completely ineffective on the day, I read numerous reports on australian newspapers after the match where the criticism towards Giteau was he was too letral and never created go forward ball.

    As far as the fallibility, the All Blacks couldn’t get the possession for long periods of time, so as much as everyone blows the Kiwi, back row, with numbers to the ball the Wallabies were able to retain possession and most likely if Cooper played that test, the score would have been a win for Australia.

  • 45

    @ biltongbek:
    Ive always maintained Giteau is so over-rated… and your point makes sense, I do believe if any team can hold on to possession, no team can defend it for ever… I was actually pleased they couldnt get the possession often, it proved that this team can also grind out a win, something I think they worked on on last years EOYT.

    Im not sure Cooper would have made the difference, the Aussies lacked genuine ball carriers and struggled to make gains over the advantage line, something which I think they will struggle with again this coming weekend IMO..

  • 46

    @ nga puhi:
    Look I think the Australian backline is talented, but they don’t have a guy like Mortlock anymore, so as you say, no strike runners.

    I beleive O’Connor is over rated, I don’t like giteau at 10, and although he is a talented player, he really isn’t all that big either.

    Remember they tried him at scrum hlaf a while back? I personally think thye should have stuck it out.

    As far as your All Black team, they are truely immense at the moment,there is very little doubt about it, just one question, how do you think your talent would have faired if PDV was your coach.

  • 47

    @ biltongbek: I also think the Aussie backline is talented, they honestly lack an on field general, as you allude to Mortlock was that man previously. Giteau I feel would be better as an impact man off the bench, with Cooper and Barnes my preferred option. I believe Barnes is very under-rated.

    as for your question on PDV as coach of the ABs, that sir is a very loaded question lol Im not sure how he would go, but I think the natural mindset of NZ players would fit more into his playing philosophy then SA players do at this stage. What with all the different rumours of senior players coaching etc, its hard to know if PDV really has the full support of his team of not only players, but assistants too…

  • 48

    @ nga puhi:
    Do you know his playing philosophy?

  • 49

    @ nga puhi:
    Sorry another loaded question.

  • 50

    @ biltongbek: lol.. I thought he wanted to play the running game, wasnt that his vision in 2008?? I am happy to be corrected if wrong too..

  • 51

    @ nga puhi:
    😆 Mate everyone wants to see running rugby, but do you really think the man who only found out the other day that we had two different styles of play between the Stormer and Bull dominated Springbok squad, actually has a plan on how to run the ball?

  • 52

    @ biltongbek: I guess that was my point, are his ideas being implemented or are too many other indians (clowns?) having their say and over-riding his “vision”

    as you know, his president intimated publically that he was not the best man for the job, would that not impact upon players and assistants minds in disregarding some of his ideas? How could he get buy in from all in the Bok camp when he has been dismissed by the very people who gave him the job?

    it could also just be that he has no idea, and Im leaning to this as the non selection of a fetcher shows…but you dont win an U21 WC without some clues as to what you are trying to achieve surely?

  • 53

    nga puhi wrote:

    but you dont win an U21 WC without some clues as to what you are trying to achieve surely?

    Well that point is debatable, the way I see it, if you send a NZ or SA age group bunch of guys to a junior championship, purely because of the sheer number of school boys and talent that is available you should make a semi final and parhaps the final.

    Just remember this, to win a JWC you play 5 matches and that is it, half those games are not very tough, so your opponents don’t have much time to analyse you.

    Take that into running one of the top teams in world rugby for 60 tests, it’s is an entirely different story, because now you must be able to evolve.

  • 54

    @ biltongbek: IMO you still have to get those young guys to all be on the same page, you still have to create a healthy team environment for them to succeed in…You still have to get them to perform?

  • 55

    Ek dink die ou stel dit puik

    loer na Pierre Spies se statistieke, net om die sluier te lig oor sy werkverrigting. Hy het die bal 11 kere gedra, 11 duikslae gemaak, en was betrokke by 23 losgemale en -skrums (13 op Bokbal, en 10 op AB-bal). Ek gaan nie hier staan en vir julle vertel dit beteken hy speel die rugby van sy lewe nie, inteendeel. Hierdie is bloot net om te illustreer dat persone wat aankarring dat Spies wegraak in fisieke wedstryde, moet stadiger teug aan dit wat hulle rook. Ek onthou al te goed hoe ons, nie te lank terug nie, vir ‘n sekere mnr. Kankowski agter ‘n sukkelende Bokpak gesit het, en toe nie kon verstaan hoekom ons agterlyn onder soveel druk is nie. Moenie Pierre Spies se krag agter die skrum onderskat nie!

  • 56

    The stats tell the story about Boks rugby for the past few years. They seem to have forgotten this is a running game. And to run you have to pass rather than kick.

    Judging by the lineup for Saturdays match it seems the coaches are going to plan again on a strategy of kick for line outs or kick & chase. Then rely upon the opposition conceding penalties & kick for goals. It’s a strategy that will keep in you in the game & on occasion win it. But it’s not a lot of fun to watch.

    I know many people here think the Boks were unlucky to lose, given the questionable try but what seems to have been forgotten in the discussion is that the ABs came close to scoring 5 tries instead of the 3 they actually scored. That’s what comes from running/passing rugby. It’s frustrating, you have talented players but seem reluctant to let them play, why? Have SA become too professional in calculating the percentage game? If so the calculations are not paying off. 🙁

  • 57

    Excuse me that should have read “close to scoring 6 tries instead of the 3 they actually scored”. Sorry.

  • 58

    @ JimT: Its not always about running. But on Saturday there were 3 glaring overlaps when they should have run. Our strength is amongst the forwards and we wont change our style, however flexibility is gone. The centre pairing was wrong, it is not a tested combination…we should be playing combinations, you’ll see the difference at centre this wekk and probably result in balls to the wing, where we have fliers who’ve been waiting a long time.

  • 59

    Hi Jim and 4man,
    Sorry Jim i disagree that rugby would not be nice to watch if fewer tries was scored.
    Last year the Boks scored 5 to 4 and won it and we were happy, very happy.
    This year the ABs scored 11 to 3 and you enjoyed it.
    For me a hard earned victory in a TEST is OK even if no try was scored. Win is what counts.

  • 60

    Antony – Francois Steyn, who has been called up for South Africa’s Tri-Nations match against Australia, is “not ready” for Test rugby, according to his Racing-Metro coach Pierre Berbizier.

    “I don’t think so,” former France scrum-half Berbizier said when asked whether full-back Steyn was ready for a return to the high-octane world of Test match rugby.

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