Bokke!

It is often said that combinations are key to winning rugby. Now this article is mostly about statistics, so if you are not a statistic minded person it would most likely bore you to death, I did however find some telling stats looking at which combinations seemed to have worked for the Springboks.

Front row combination.

John Smit has played 106 tests, winning 65, losing 39, drawing 2. (62%)

Bismarck du Plessis has played 38 tests, winning 27, losing 11. (71%)

Gurthro Steenkamp has played 33 tests, winning 24, losing 9. (73%)

Beast Mtawarira has played 28 tests, winning 19, losing 9. (68%)

Jannie du Plessis has played in 26 tests, winning 19, losing 7. (73%)

Beast, John and Jannie has played 8 tests as a combination, winning 7, losing 1. (88%)

Beast, Bismarck and Jannie have played 12 tests as a combination, winning 10, losing 2. (83%)

Gurthro, Bismarck and Jannie have played only 2 tests as a combination winning 1, losing 1. (50%)

Gurthro, John and Jannie have played 9 tests as a combination, winning 5, losing 4. (56%)

Lock combination

Victor Matfield has played in 107 tests, winning 67, losing 38, drawing 2. (64%)

Bakkies Botha has played in 74 tests, winning 54, losing 17. (73%)

Victor Matfield played 67 tests with Bakkies Botha, winning 50, losing 17. (75%)

Victor Matfield has played 40 tests without Bakkies Botha, winning 17, losing 23. (43%)

Tight five combination.

Beast Mtawarira, John Smit, Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield has played 8 tests as a combination winning 7, losing 1. (87.5%)

Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Bakkies botha and Victor Matfield has played 11 tests as a combination, winning 9, losing 2. (82%)

Back row combination.

Schalk Burger has played 63 tests, winning 41, losing 21, drawing 1. ( 66%)

Juan Smit has played 69 tests, winning 48, losing 21. (70%)

Heinrich Brussow has played 15 tests, winning 10, losing 5. (66%)

Pierre spies has played 42 tests, winning 27, losing 15. (64%)

S Burger, Heinrich Brussow and Pierre Spies have played 5 tests, winning 4, losing 1. (80%)

S burger, Juan Smith and Pierre Spies has played 15 tests as a combination winning 9, losing 6. (66%)

Half back combination.

Fourie du Preez has played in 57 test matches winning 39, losing 17 and drawing 1. (69%)

Morne Steyn has played in 29 test matches won 16 and lost 13. (55%)

Morne Steyn played 14 tests with Fourie du Preez, winning 9. (64%)

Morne Steyn has played 15 tests without Fourie du Preez winning 7, losing 8. (47%)

Centre combination.

Jean de Villiers has played in 69 tests, winning 45, losing 23, drawing 1. (66%)

Jean de Villiers without Jaque Fourie has played in 28 tests, winning 16, drawing 1. (59%)

Jaque Fourie has played in 64 tests, winning 45, losing 19. (70%)

Jaque fourie without Jean de Villiers has played in 23 tests, winning 16, losing 7. (70%)

Fourie and de Villiers as a combination have played 41 tests, winning 29, losing 12. (71%)

Back three.

Bryan Habana has played 70 tests, winning 46, losing 23, drawing 1. (66%)

Frans Steyn has played 43 tests, winning 31, losing 12. (72%)

JP Pietersen has played 38 tests, winning 27, losing 11. (71%)

Habana, Pietersen and F Steyn have played 24 tests as a combination winning 20, losing 4. (83%)

Summary

Since the first test against the British and Irish Lions, the combination of Fourie du Preez, Morne Steyn, Jaque Fourie, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana and JP Pietersen has only played 9 tests as a combination.

The Springboks played 30 tests since the British and Irish Lions tour, winning 17, losing 13. (57%)

The Springboks played 21 tests without their first choice combination, winning 10, losing 11. (48%)

The first choice back line combination has only played 9 tests, winning 7, losing 2.  (78%)

When you add Frans Steyn into the equation, the springboks have played only 7 tests together winning 6, and the only loss was to Australia at home this year. (86%)

It is very clear from these statistics that our first choice combinations when available make a big difference to the performance of the Springbok squad. In most cases the collective provide for much higher probability to win matches than when paired with other unsettled combinations and second choice players.

Now I admit that statistics can’t tell all, the fact is fitness, form and motivation are crucial aspects to win the Rugby world Cup, but it starts with selections.

So come on Boks, show them what you are made of.