Defence patterns in Super Rugby this year are more aggressive than in 2010, putting more pressure on attackers. As a result, attacking opportunities are harder to find.
This means that teams have to be more patient in attack, and that having a good counter-attack is even more important. Counter-attack and turnover ball present some of the best attacking opportunities.
One of the interesting trends so far in Super Rugby is that we’re seeing teams win games despite facing a large deficit in possession.
In Round 1 the Bulls beat the Lions with only 39 per cent of time in possession and 47 rucks and mauls, compared to 99 for the Lions.
In Round 2, the Rebels beat the Brumbies with only 35 per cent of time in possession and only 38 rucks and mauls, compared to 127 for the Brumbies. The Waratahs also beat the Reds with only 41 per cent of time in possession and only 61 rucks and mauls, compared to 99 for the Reds.
This weekend the Blues, Sharks and Reds all won their games despite significant deficits in possession. The Blues only had 38 per cent time in possession and had 51 rucks and mauls, compared to 100 for the Lions; the Sharks and Force shared the time in possession but the Sharks had only 59 rucks and mauls compared to 87 for the Force; the Reds had only 30 per cent of the time in possession and only 40 rucks and mauls, compared to 123 for the Brumbies.
The following table shows ruck and maul statistics for each team after Round 3. There is no correlation between the results in the win/loss column for the two highest ranked teams in terms of the amount of ball they are playing with, the Brumbies and the Lions. While they have both been involved in close games, with the amount of ball the Brumbies have had, their 1 from 3 record shows how ineffective their attack is at the moment.
Team Rucks & Mauls - Attack Average Per Game Rucks & Mauls - Defence Average Per Game
Blues 188 62 216 72
Brumbies 347 115 133 44
Bulls 231 77 287 95
Cheetahs 197 65 211 70
Chiefs 198 66 269 89
Crusaders 164 82 140 70
Force 142 71 112 56
Highlanders 296 98 248 82
Hurricanes 90 90 72 72
Lions 301 100 182 60
Rebels 158 52 266 88
Reds 192 64 239 79
Sharks 179 59 189 63
Stormers 132 66 178 89
Waratahs 204 68 277 92
The following tables show the defence statistics after Round 3 for all teams. On average, teams had to make 149 tackles per game in 2010, and after three rounds in 2011 the average is 148 tackles per game — except for the Brumbies, who are averaging 93 tackles per game, while the three teams they’ve faced have had to make an average of 220 tackles per game against the Brumbies!
Team Total Tackles Average Per Game Opposition Total Tackles Average Per Game
Blues 426 142 377 126
Brumbies 279 93 660 220
Bulls 565 188 411 137
Cheetahs 429 143 353 118
Chiefs 472 157 419 140
Crusaders 274 137 317 159
Force 258 129 307 154
Highlanders 498 166 534 178
Hurricanes 132 132 184 184
Lions 335 112 582 194
Rebels 534 178 288 96
Reds 490 163 365 122
Sharks 385 128 403 134
Stormers 311 156 282 141
Waratahs 521 174 427 142
Team Tackles Missed Average Per Game Opposition Tackles Missed Average Per Game
Blues 39 13 56 19
Brumbies 23 8 68 23
Bulls 48 16 36 12
Cheetahs 41 14 25 8
Chiefs 48 16 43 14
Crusaders 31 16 36 18
Force 39 20 29 15
Highlanders 51 17 57 19
Hurricanes 11 11 20 20
Lions 28 9 50 17
Rebels 61 20 23 8
Reds 47 16 38 13
Sharks 45 15 45 15
Stormers 29 15 21 11
Waratahs 50 17 44 15
Team Tackle Accuracy Opposition Tackle Accuracy
Blues 91% 85%
Brumbies 92% 90%
Bulls 92% 91%
Cheetahs 90% 93%
Chiefs 90% 90%
Crusaders 89% 89%
Force 85% 91%
Highlanders 90% 89%
Hurricanes 92% 89%
Lions 92% 91%
Rebels 89% 92%
Reds 90% 90%
Sharks 88% 89%
Stormers 91% 93%
Waratahs 90% 90%
