Tomikin
David Codey (61)
Noah's boots fine for distance when he wants too. Problem is his being too careful. He needs to back himself and waloop the shit out of it. But he kicks scared...
Wallabies 2025
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The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
Hard one there because I want him to be astute with it and get it out when it needs to be and keep it in when it needs to be. If he starts trying to send it then we'll all bemoan him for garbage kicks.
I think he's alright and in a situation pinned on your line you probably do look for Wright.
I think he's alright and in a situation pinned on your line you probably do look for Wright.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
Yep. You usually have a lot more time to get it right from full back. When Wrights kicking it's returning a kick, or at the end of a designed play, making sure he gets as much space as possible.
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Wilson
Rod McCall (65)
It's something I'd like to see them explore more generally, but it needs to be a relaible skill and there is a limit to what these guys can train - Wilson is currently working hard on up-skilling at lineout time for example, kicking practice would likely eat into that.
Ignoto
Peter Sullivan (51)
We've seen that Fraser has a huge boot on him, let him kick, he doesn't need to worry about jumping!
dru
David Wilson (68)
If we are still stuffing around with considering Skelton to start then yes Fraser absolutely needs to worry about jumping.
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
And how is that different from any other fullback kicking in general play, all of whom he outkicked by at least 10m during the EOYT matches?
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
The Tom Wright kicking sample size is so small that it becomes meaningless when you try and compare things like distance
Six nations do put out some great stats
This is all based on smart ball post-match reports
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
Who would have guessed this stat?
Adam84
Rod McCall (65)
The comment chain you are replying to was someone who suggested Wright should kick for touch because he outkicked Lolesio in distance, we weren't comparing him to other fullbacks, it was comparing to Noah..... Anyway like most statistics, It's a meaningless in isolation except to say that yes, Wright can kick long.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
It's not so small when the whole series is taken into consideration, not just a single game (I would argue 4 isn't that small in the context of a single game, anyway).
From the original article:
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
re the match stats - If one data point significantly changes the outcome then it's pretty meaningless (eg if Wright does a cross field kick for 0m gained the average is massively impacted.)
I don't doubt Wright has a big boot, I just don't think you can assess the quality of the kicking based on the data we see.
What is being measured here is metres gained, not kick distance.
Does this just mean Wright kicks straight down the middle of the field every time to maximise his metres gained? Is that actually a worse outcome than someone who kicks to touch or pins the returner with hang time? How much territory does the opposition get back from the return if he hasn't kicked it towards the sideline etc etc.
LeCheese
Greg Davis (50)
This helps address your first point:
I of course agree that data is nothing without context, but that doesn't make it any less compelling - and the argument that Wright is a good option to be considered to take over some kicking duties of a player who is ostensibly struggling with it is pretty compelling.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
https://media.sixnationsrugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Smart-Ball-Post-Round-Report-Round-4.pdf
There are some seriously interesting stats in the report above
There are some seriously interesting stats in the report above
Brumby Runner
Jason Little (69)
Over the years there have been many reports about the most winning teams are often those who kick the most.
The stats for this year's ANR seem to turn that bit of accepted wisdom on its head. South Africa (71), France (77), Scotland (79), Ireland (84) and NZ (93) all kicked significantly less than Australia and England.
The stats for this year's ANR seem to turn that bit of accepted wisdom on its head. South Africa (71), France (77), Scotland (79), Ireland (84) and NZ (93) all kicked significantly less than Australia and England.
Strewthcobber
David Codey (61)
For England, they did significantly more box kicks than anyone else, and we did way more clearance kicks than anyone else.
Again a pretty surprising result for the Wobs I would say
The Ghost of Raelene
David Codey (61)
That many Grubbers grosses me out. Just seems a completely ineffective kick 9/10. Also so many clearances feels like we are under constant pressure and getting away with it.
Double digit cross field kicks next year with JAS going up for them.