A new ball has had a remarkable statistical effect on the Pro14

Try-scoring and goal-kicking success rates are up right across the Guinness PRO14 since the introduction of a new ball – it has been revealed.

Since Gilbert’s arrival as official match ball partner to the Guinness PRO14 in August, their MATCH-XV ball has been used in all 70 Championship games to date and already its impact is clear to see.

When compared to last season’s statistics after 10 rounds it’s obvious that players in the Guinness PRO14 have wasted no time in getting to grips with the new ball.

How much other factors have played into those statistics is unclear, but a strong argument can be made that the ball has played a fundamental role in the increasing accuracy of kicking.

The statistics bear out a significant change: The average tries scored per game has risen from 5.4 to 5.8; goalkicking success among the Top 10 kickers is up by 7.8%; goalkicking success among the Top 20 kickers is up by 7.65%; and three players (Finn Russell, Dan Jones, Jarrod Evans) have a success rate above 90% compared to none after Round 10 last season.

All of the Top 10 kickers are above 80% success rate while four players were below that mark after Round 10 last season

Top 10 Goal Kickers 2017/18

Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) 95.24% (20/21)
Dan Jones (Scarlets) 92.86% (13/14)
Jarrod Evans (Cardiff Blues) 91.67% (22/24)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) 86.96% (20/23)
Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 85.71% (18/21)
Steve Shingler (Cardiff Blues) 85% (17/20)
Duncan Weir (Edinburgh) 85% (17/20)
Jason Tovey (Edinburgh) 83.33% (15/18)
Ernst Stapelberg (Toyota Cheetahs) 82.86% (29/35)
Sam Davies (Ospreys) 80% (12/15)

Top 10 Goal Kickers 2016/17

Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) 85.71% (12/14)
Johnny Sexton (Leinster) 85.71% (12/14)
Sam Davies (Ospreys) 84.85% (28/33)
Isa Nacewa (Leinster) 84.62% (22/26)
Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster) 83.87% (26/31)
Tommaso Allan (Benetton Rugby) 82.35% (14/17)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) 78.05% (32/41)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) 76.19% (16/21)
Ian Keatley (Munster) 72.22% (13/18)
Jason Tovey (Edinburgh) 71.43% (10/14)

Goal-kicking statistics refer to those players ranked in the Top 10 and 20 who had attempted a minimum of 10 shots at goal by Round 10 in each of the seasons referenced.

Last year the Pro14 used a Rhino ball across the competition.