Scotty Donaldson looks at the Super Rugby team of the competition so far and other stats leaders. Do you think that www.testrugby.com stats reflect actual performance?
The Super 15 Rugby Competition 2012 is halfway through and I decided to formulate the ideal www.testrugby.com team. There is a real assortment of players from various teams.
The rules for this team are
1) Highest average points per round.
2) Must be in the Top 20 overall scorers.
This means that some high points scorers miss out. Johan Goosen from the Cheetahs is the highest overall points scorer in www.testrugby.com, but his average is lower than Beauden Barrett and Christian Lealiifano. David Pocock, Willie Le Roux and Keegan Daniel would have made it as they have scored in the top two points in their position, but based on averages, they miss out.
Players to score heavily are often from teams with not much depth. That requires the player to play in as many matches as possible and the entire match. Someone like Andrew Hore for example may have made it if he wasn't always subbed after sixty minutes. Others, like Goosen could have made it if he didn't start from the bench against the Chiefs.
Team of Super Rugby Competition First 8 Rounds
Player Position Team Matches Total Average Points Price
1 Stephen Moore FR BRM 7 2240 320 $1,407,500
2 Adriaan Strauss FR CHE 7 2150 307 $1,217,500
1 Nathan Sharpe LK FOR 8 1945 243 $1,217,500
2 Hugh Pyle LK REB 7 1505 215 $855,000
3 Adam Thomson LF HGH 6 2030 338 $1,250,000
4 Ben Mowen LF BRM 7 1945 278 $990,000
2 Beauden Barrett HV HUR 7 2445 349 $767,500
3 Christian Lealiifano HV BRM 7 2290 327 $1,322,500
1 Sonny Bill Williams CT CHF 7 2010 287 $1,367,500
2 Nick Cummins CT FOR 7 1740 249 $782,500
1 James O'Connor OB REB 6 2225 371 $1,462,500
19 Julian Savea OB HUR 5 1445 289 $667,500
Team of the Super Rugby competition by country
Australia 7
New Zealand 4
South Africa 1
There is only one South African in the Super Rugby team of the competition, yet seven Australians were included. I think this is because Australia doesn't have the depth and so players are being required to play the full eighty minutes, week in, week out.
Top 5 Points Scorers Overall
Player Position Team Matches Total Average Points Price
1 Johan Goosen HV CHE 8 2565 321 $640,000
2 Beauden Barrett HV HUR 7 2445 349 $767,500
3 Christian Lealiifano HV BRM 7 2290 327 $1,322,500
4 Stephen Moore FR BRM 7 2240 320 $1,407,500
5 James O'Connor OB REB 6 2225 371 $1,462,500
The Top 5 points scorers so far in Super Rugby 2012 www.testrugby.com include three inside halves and four goalkickers. The amazing thing is that both Johan Goosen and Beauden Barrett are available for significantly less than $1 million.
Top Tacklers
1 Matt Todd LF CRU 7 92 13 $860,000
2 Marcell Coetzee LF SHK 8 80 10 $760,000
3 Phillip van der Walt LF CHE 8 77 10 $665,000
4 David Pocock LF FOR 8 76 10 $1,165,000
5 Heinrich Brussouw LF CHE 8 74 9 $1,095,000
6 Siya Kolisi LF STM 7 73 10 $585,000
7 Brodie Retallick LK CHF 7 71 10 $640,000
8 Liam Messam LF CHF 7 70 10 $1,195,000
The top tacklers in Super Rugby 2012 according to www.testrugby.com statistics are listed above. This is the first tackler and doesn't include assists in conjunction with the rules of the game. Matt Todd (Crusaders) leads with an average of 13 per game, while there are six players who average 10 tackles per game. Heinrich Brussouw averages 9 tackles per game but has made 74 tackles.
Top lineout forwards
1 Nathan Charles FR FOR 8 95 12 $707,500
2 Tiaan Liebenburg FR STM 7 61 9 $1,242,500
3 Stephen Moore FR BRM 7 55 8 $1,407,500
4 Bismarck du Plessis FR SHK 7 54 8 $1,052,500
5 Adriaan Strauss FR CHE 7 53 8 $1,217,500
6 Chilliboy Ralepelle FR BUL 7 53 8 $1,192,500
7 James Hanson FR RED 7 53 8 $707,500
8 Callie Visagie FR LIO 7 52 7 $577,500
9 Corey Flynn FR CRU 7 47 7 $1,090,000
10 Keven Mealamu FR BLU 6 46 8 $1,137,500
Here are the top 10 lineout forwards. Nathan Charles from the Force averages 12 successful lineouts per match. I guess it helps if you also have good players to throw the ball into.
Best Go Forward Players
1 Marcell Coetzee LF SHK 8 54 7 $760,000
2 Nasi Manu LF HGH 7 52 7 $1,002,500
3 Jacob Johhanes Taute OB LIO 7 51 7 $787,500
4 Nathan Sharpe LK FOR 8 48 6 $1,217,500
5 Sonny Bill Williams CT CHF 7 46 7 $1,367,500
6 Joshua Strauss LF LIO 7 46 7 $1,092,500
7 Tamati Ellison CT HGH 7 46 7 $907,500
13 Adam Thomson LF HGH 6 41 7 $1,250,000
The Best Go Forward players are lead by Sharks loose forward Marcell Coetzee. Nathan Sharpe has made 48, but has played 8 matches. It is amazing how three Highlanders are included with 7 Go Forwards per game. This shows their style of play.
What do you think of the Team of the Competition Super Rugby 2012? Do you think that www.testrugby.com points is an indication of actual performance? Who would you like to see in this team?
http://www.superrugbytips.com/2012/04/super-15-rugby-2012-team-of-competition.html
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