The 2005 British & Irish Lions tried to 'target McCaw in all phases'

When players get dropped in NZ, it’s next to never that it’s an established AB, it’s the others who get the chop.

It don’t see any reason to halt or rest. Are you just trying to appease NZRs stance?

I would also be interested in a average clock length (don’t need to go into the whole BIP hole) showing how long the last phases are taking (because one team is trying to still alter the match points outcome in some way) to complete before the game finally ends. I don’t know if its more common this year but in general I wonder if its a stat that can show how good games are/were?

I have started looking at clock length (and amount of ‘dead time’). It needs more work, but there are interesting differences.

The length of the last play is interesting. So far, I had only looked at the length of the first play.

You really had the same reversed 10 points lead % as you had lead changes after the 75th?

Yes I did. Not necessarily the same games, of course, but the same number of games.

After round 8, it is now 20.5% for 10-point reversed leads (see Tahs against Moana) and 15.4% for lead changes after the 75th (as it did not happen in any of the 5 games).

I don’t think it’s fair for SRP to claim anything over the other leagues yet.

I completely agree. As I wrote in another comment somewhere, the title is not from me. 😅

Though I genuilly prefer the isolated (3rd/decider) test to be before, rather than after the two RC games.

And they paid the price for it three times over. Heavy.

The SA teams are a good addition for sure, they have enhanced the competition and I reckon it’s got more to come. They have struggled big time with EPRC but that will improve as the playing field is levelled and the format is changed to eliminate last minute intercontinental ko ties with one weeks notice. When that’s dealt with they will almost certainly get their feet properly under the tables and then ofc, it will be time for the big one and creation of the 7N!!