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The Top 14 In Numbers: The Season So Far

Bismarck du Plessis

Once the season starts, it doesn’t take long for the old rugby stats machine to go into overdrive. Two weeks into the Top 14 season some interesting figures are starting to emerge.

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1
Already, Toulouse are the only Top 14 side to boast a perfect record – though they have had the advantage of two home matches to kick off their campaign. We’ll have to see how they go when they hit the road for the first time next weekend. It won’t exactly be easy: they’re at defending champions Racing 92. For the record, three teams – Clermont, Toulouse and Racing – had two wins from two at this stage last season.

2
The number of matches the previously almost permanently injured Leigh Halfpenny has managed faultless kicking performances. He landed five from five on the opening weekend for Toulon, and six from six on Saturday.

3
The unusually high number of drawn matches in the first two rounds of the season. The opening weekend saw top-flight returnees Lyon draw 15-15 at home to Brive, while La Rochelle and Clermont could not be separated in a 60-point six-try encounter. Bayonne and Castres then drew 12-12 in a brutal battle of the defences on the second weekend.

3 (again)
Rocking-horse deposits, hens’ teeth and politicians with a conscience are more common than away wins in the Top 14, so accepted knowledge has it. And, the first weekend appeared to bear that out, with no wins on the road – but sides are starting to play catch-up. There were three away wins last weekend, to La Rochelle, Clermont and Toulon.

7
Super Rugby fans complained mightily about changes to the bonus-points system introduced at the start of last season, but Top 14 watchers are well used to the three-tries-ahead idea, while losing BPs are only awarded if teams finish within five points of each other. So far, defences are ruling the roost: five defensive BPs have been won in close encounters, compared to just two attacking BPs.

8
Starting the season with two losses is bad enough, but Grenoble’s losing streak in the Top 14 extends back another six games last season. Their defeat at home to La Rochelle on Saturday was their eighth on the bounce. Their last win was at Oyonnax on April 2.

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13
The number of French players in the Montpellier matchday squad over the opening two weekends. It would have been 12, but Marvin O’Connor – who is properly French despite his name and Australian heritage – was a late addition to the teamsheet on the opening weekend after Cypriot Demitri Catrakilis was forced to withdraw.

14
The number of French players the LNR says should be in EVERY Top 14 matchday squad.

15
The number of South African players in the Montpellier matchday squad over the opening two weekends.

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26
The number of times referees have brandished a card (of either colour) so far this season. A total 24 yellows have been issued, and two reds. Castres’ Rory Kockott holds the dubious honour of picking up the first red of the season, for stamping 18 minutes into the opening match against Pau. Brive managed to lose four players to the sin bin in 10 minutes of madness against Stade on Saturday, but still held on to win.

40
The number of points scored by Brive’s points machine Gaetan Germain. The man who has topped the Top 14 points table over the past two seasons notched up 25 points in the weekend’s 28-20 win over Stade Francais, including six penalties and a try – which he also converted for good measure. That’s on top of the five penalties he knocked over on the opening weekend. He tops the points table, one ahead of Stade’s Jules Plisson, who scored 10 of their 20 points, to go with the 29 he racked up against Grenoble the previous week.

44
Unlike away wins, tries have been hard to come by, with just 44 scored in the first 14 matches. You have to hope that figure rises quickly as players and teams remember that scoring tries is what they’re supposed to do. So far, three matches have ended try-less, which is hardly a ringing endorsement of the richest league in rugby.

518
That would be the number of days between wins on the road for La Rochelle. Their 22-18 win at Grenoble in the second round was their first away victory since they squeaked home 22-21 at Bordeaux on March 28, 2015.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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