Finally the stats for the last two Tri Nations games have become available, and there are some shocking results which have come through, where one the so-called ‘missing’ players had actually been one of the busier ones. I have put together the stats for both games and will report these as one.
Thanks must go to www.ruggastats.com for the use of their stats to compile this article.
If we start on the tackle stats, you will have your entire thought process reconfigured. Deon Stegmann, the man who copped more criticism in the last few weeks than John Smit in his entire career, was the man who made the most tackles, with a staggering 28 tackles and 11 assists, but unfortunately missed 7 in the process. Pienaar was second on the tackle count, with 20 tackles and 3 assists, and did not miss a single tackle. Rounding out the top three is Hargreaves with 19 tackles, 3 assists but missing 2 in the process.
The worrying stat though is that in two games, the Boks somehow managed to miss 63 tackles, out of an attempted 323, leaving us with a missed tackle count of 1 in every 5 tackles missed. That, unfortunately, is not even good enough at Currie Cup First Division level.
Something of a positive is the fact that we managed a good 16 line breaks in the two games, even though none of them really led to tries, at least we showed some attacking mindedness. Gio Aplon managed 3 in just the one game he played, along with Lwazi Mvovo, Juan de Jongh and Bjorn Basson who all had three over their 2 games.
In the two matches, 18 penalties were conceded, with our forwards making the most mistakes, the front row in particular with John Smit (3), Werner Kruger (3) and Dean Greyling (2) costing us points and possession.
In terms of ball carries, there are a few players that stand out. There were 192 ball carries in total in the two games, with Jean Deysel coming up tops with 21 of these, with second place shared between Danie Rossouw and Juan de Jongh, on 20 each. It is good to see Deysel in there, but even better to see de Jongh getting a bit of ball, even though it might be on the back foot.
Thanks Rich, good to get some perspective!
De Jongh outplayed basson and Aplon…give him a hand. Certainly the best out of the 3. Deysel for 7 for wc. Pienaar ? Surprised but he generally is a good tackler but his game forward needs a major klap with a zest of speed. Last but least and to silence the critics…well done John you tried hard not forgetting your two tries …sadly most of your team mates let you down especially the back line. So the shark boys yet again prove their worth…
That all = a 79-27 defeated tour….
I do believe that althou we always have believe and hope, we knew its not gonna be easy… But I think it was worse that I thought its gonna be…
Surprised by Stegmann’s tackle stats..
So he did play in both games..
Stegmann also hit the most rucks out of any Springbok player, at 76 rucks in total for the two games..
Hargreaves second best on 48 rucks
Fascinating. Who were the biggest culprits on defense, seeing as that is one of the most spoken about topics of the tour? I recall De Jong shooting up in defense, creating holes, Basson and Steyn falling off tackles etc…
Yep those stats on H and steggies are strange?
Biggest culprits were basson and steyn including aplon and miesiekind…basson cost us 3 tries …aplon 2 and steyn 4 and miesiekind 2.
Stegmann will come back to the Bulls this weekend and have a cracker, I am sure..
He will add some much needed experience to the loosies.. and based on the Bulls being back, I think the Bulls will kill the Lions..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : My suspicions are correct then – I dislike him regardless of his onfield contributions.
He seems to possess some innate quality that makes it really hard to like him. Is he the anti-Lambie? Prophesied to appear in rugby’s darkest of days?
Stegmann was quite busy..and aplon managed 3 line breaks in the one game.actually quite surprised with ali hargs’ stats (shock).
Wonder if some of the def woes were because of team trying to get to grip with def coach’s def strategy?only one player in the backline was in stormers backline(two in the test vs aus).
can somebody let me know how are the metres gained calculated. i see that both pienaar and weepu are on minus and weepu is said to have a good game.
@rekinek (Comment 13) :
Running backwards with the ball will end up in negaitve meters gained..
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 14) : and i assume that this is not normal or desired.
(Piri weepu has joined the blues on a 12month contract.and both corey jane and hosea gear are said to be looking at furthering their careers at other nz teams).
@rekinek (Comment 15) :
Correct, the last thing you want to do is run backwards with the ball..
@HertfordHighlander:could you please do an arti on what is going on at the hurricanes?or if someone could pass the msg on to him,please
.
@bergshark (Comment 18) :
Will do..
@Richard Ferguson:thanks,much appreciated (thumbs up)
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 5) : @Richard Ferguson (Comment 4) : don’t worry, when i told everyone here before the tests that steggies will make them eat their words they were in stitches, now all you see is “wow, indeed stegmann was on the pitch”
@Megatron (Comment 21) :
Same can be said for Hargreaves…..weren’t you one of the Hargreaves haters?
@vanmartin (Comment 10) : @Megatron (Comment 21) : Never fear Megatron, I stand undaunted, refusing to let facts or logic sway my opinion of Slegmann. You can count on me!
@Pokkel (Comment 22) : hargreaves is a softie and not international class, how many lineouts did he steal for us in the 2 games? in fact mostert had a FAR better game than him, after flying from france nogal.
@Culling Song (Comment 23) : spoken like a true guppy fanatic
@Pokkel (Comment 22) :
In the E Cape, what’s good for the goose is completely unsuitable for the gander. Consider yourself enlightened.
@Big Fish (Comment 26) :
Thanks for the lesson, o wise one!
@Big Fish (Comment 26) : how many lineouts did Hargo steal off opposition ball and how many did he lose of ours?