Bok champs' stats a powerful statement
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Defence and discipline were key areas of influence for the Springboks in the 2024 Rugby Championship, but control and composure won them the title, writes MARK KEOHANE.
The world champions clinched their first full Rugby Championship title – since the competition expanded to four teams in 2012 – with a dominant win over Argentina in Nelspruit last week.
Writing for TimesLIVE, Keohane highlights the Boks’ dominance in the competition, as shown by OptaAnalyst stats. South Africa conceded the fewest penalties (58) and allowed the fewest line breaks (27) and metres (1,735).
Despite having the worst individual tackle success rate (84%), their rush defence forced attackers into ineffective areas. The Boks also dominated possession (55%) and territory (54%), making them the most efficient in both attack and defence.
Their contestable kicking was unmatched, with 168 kicks and a 23.2% retention rate, far outclassing their rivals. They controlled rucks, boasting a 96% success rate and the fastest ruck speed (3.0 seconds). Keohane also highlights their scrum dominance, with a plus-15 penalty balance, far ahead of other teams.
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He emphasises that flyhalves Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu were key to the Bok attack, each offering varied skill sets. Pollard led in goal-kicking, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu excelled in tactical kicking, and Libbok provided creativity.
“Siya Kolisi's Rugby Championship title-winning squad are the kings of contestable kicks, the most disciplined side in the tournament and the best defensive unit,” Keohane writes.
“They also controlled possession and territory more than any other nation in the competition and had the most potent scrum.
“Defence and discipline were significant areas of influence for the Boks in the 2024 Rugby Championship but the most powerful statement of their dominance was the control and composure to their game.
“The most telling statistic, which underwrites all the above performance metrics, is that the Bok had a plus 15 penalties scrum penalty balance in the Rugby Championship, with the next best being the All Blacks on zero.”
Photo: Anton Geyser/AG Media
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