S14 stat attack: Aussie players (2010)

About 12 months ago the esteemed Juan Cote put together a few stats from the 2009 Super 14.  Great idea I reckon. So I stole it.  Now the first Wallaby squad of has been named as of yesterday. As with any team announcement there are always surprise selections and omissions. So this now gives us a chance to review some of the key stats of the season and make some of our own observations.

As they say ‘98% of stats are made up’. As they (no, the other ones) also say ‘statistics are like bikinis – what they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital’. So take what you read here however you want. Regardless I find them interesting to at least pick up some trends and tendencies.

As such I’ve tried to put together similar stats to those JC did last year. Unfortunately the stats I use don’t have the same details as Juan’s did, so I’ve extrapolated into a few other areas of interest, with regards the attacking stats. I’ve put together stats based on the attacking and defensive side of the game.

For the attacking stats I have based it on the number of ball carries per game.  For further comparison I’ve included stats on line breaks (and % of runs that eventuated in line breaks), off loads (and the % of runs that ended with an off load/pass in contact) and metres carried (and metres per carry). I’ve also included a total handle count (simply the number of times a player has touched the ball in play) as well as the number of handling errors giving us something that might be considered a ‘security rate’ (maybe?). Basically the percentage of times a player touched the ball that resulted in a stuff up of handling.

Thankfully defensive stats are a little more easy. Simply tackles made, tackles missed and an effectiveness percentage.

Attacking stats based on most ball carries – Forwards only

Best Effective tackle stats (70 Tackle minimum) – Forwards only

Worst Effective tackle stats (70 Tackle minimum) – Forwards only

Attacking stats based on most ball carries – Backs only

Best Effective tackle % stats (40 Tackle minimum) – Backs only

Worst Effective tackle % stats (40 tackle minimum) – Backs only

The players in red are those that were not selected in the Wallaby squad, despite being fit (to the best of my knowledge).

You can make your own comments below as to specific elements, but a couple of quick observations:

• Hoiles has some pretty damn decent attack figures.
• Cooper just bloody brilliant on attack. Quite dismal on defense.
• JOC pretty bloody brilliant as well, on attack.
• Reds did all their attacking through their backs.
• Timmy Fairbrother – the quiet achiever!
• Lachie Turner – best defender in the game?
• TPN? Seriously? Perhaps he needs to reign in his torpedo hits? Comparatively, are these stats as bad as QC’s?

Match Highs:

Whilst those stats carry over the season there were a few stand out performances by individuals in single matches that I thought worth recording.

• Rob Simmons (v Lions) and Matty Hodgson (v Tahs) had the season high tackle count with 24 one on one tackles for the game. Simmons also had the season high ‘tackle assist’ stat, for the same game, with 10. So 34 tackles for the game for the young lock!
• Hodgson also had the most ball carries in a match, v the Stormers, with 20.
• Whilst the Brumbies thrashed the Reds, it was this game that saw Gits missed the most tackles of anyone in a single match in the season, with six missed tackles.
• Quade’s game v the Sharks was as brilliant as we all thought making the most line breaks (6) and metres (242) of anyone this season.
• His mate in the halves, Will Genia, had a staggering 103 touches of the ball in the Reds upset win over the Bulls. A indication of their game plan based on possession and recycling.
• At the ruck, Dave Pocock lead the way with an incredible 41 in a single game (v the Crusaders) whilst fellow open-side Phil Waugh set the mark for the most number of opposition rucks hit (counter rucking) in a game, with 25 also against the Crusaders.
• Sammy Harris won’t remember his return to Super footy this year with a season high nine errors in the Force’s opening match against the Brumbies.

Ok. I think that will do.  Make sure you let us know your interpretations below.

PS: Following a request, the below table shows the leaders in average tackles per game.