Sunwolves v Force

[andrewg]

The players who had the most Ruck Involvements for the Australian Teams.





Possession explains some of the big numbers with general strong support of own ball carriers.

Reds - 70%
Brumbies - 64%
Force - 44%
Waratahs - 56%

Fairly normal distribution with 8 Back Rowers, 2 Locks & 2 Front Rowers.

6 of these players were in the Wallabies 2015 RWC squad.

[sittingbison]

AG, lies damn lies and statistics

I am reliably informed by Sir David Lord that:

...Captain Hooper was so effective in the tight he was hardly sighted all night until that wasted 80th minute

[andrewg]

AG, lies damn lies and statistics

I am reliably informed by Sir David Lord that:

Yes, just ONE of the reasons why I started collecting these stats. Without them it's easy to get lost in Hooper's ball carries (which he does well).

The reality is that Hooper was busy.
Provided 13% of his team's Total Ruck Involvements and 24% of the Defence Rucks and earned 2TOW.

The other reality is that Liam Gill has provided the more ball carries/metres, 12 more Ruck Involvements and 50% more TOW per game than Hooper. He's been outworking Pocock on everything except TOW.

[Petalz]

You're right - hooper WAS busy. He was just busy doing everything but playing 7 because he's a fucking muppet

[GIGS20]

You're right - hooper WAS busy. He was just busy doing everything but playing 7 because he's a fucking muppet

Yeah, but most of us have gotten over Hooper not playing as a traditional 7, as long as SOMEBODY plays the pilfer role, Hooper can do what he wants. I still think he's a 13

[kipper_mckinnon]

What Tazzmania said, and...

From those I've chattered to when available - game days etc.

I understand that he considered that he didn't have to do anything to be selected.

Foley told him, just like the rest of the team, he needed to work hard at training to EARN his place over other contenders.

Perth was a holiday - or so it seems.

I'm afraid my thoughts are more in synch with StimpsonJCat and whodunnit. Not saying you are incorrect Andrew, but if Yamada went to the Force in a world cup year and decided he wanted a holiday rather than knuckling down to win a spot....well....just doesnt seem right (or he's not too smart).

Anyway, just seems that its another player we missed out on

[GIGS20]

Anyway, just seems that its another player we missed out on

Do you really think he was ever an option for us this year? The third possibility is that he was signed because he was cheap, but Foley knew he wouldn't be sticking around and therefore only used him as injury cover, rather than creating a problem which would need solving. Either that or when it comes to outside backs, Foley doesn't know his are from a hole in the ground

[kipper_mckinnon]

"Either that or when it comes to outside backs, Foley doesn't know his are from a hole in the ground"

I'm going with that one Gigs

[jargan83]

Given the Honer Badger's form wasn't exactly the same as 2014 there was no risk in dropping him and playing Yamada, wasn't going to make our 2015 worse.

[The InnFORCEr]

Yamada was a "Japanese Option" for 2015 season only. All (Australian Franchises) could have one for that year only without them going into salary cap. Was a way for the to see the Super Rugby experience, culture and perhaps some game time if opportunity arose prior to them entering the comp this year.

[Sheikh]

I think only us and the Rebels took a Japanese player last year, and at least the Rebels gave Keita Inagaki a game

[Alison]

As an aside, that Sunwolves mascot is definitely the scariest mascot in the history of mascots!!!!

[Herbasimplex]

Even if he was a bit of a princess expecting a game. His form this year and our backline last year could have meant he could have had some game time quite easily.

[Petalz]

Yeah, but most of us have gotten over Hooper not playing as a traditional 7, as long as SOMEBODY plays the pilfer role, Hooper can do what he wants. I still think he's a 13

I agree. This would be an nice experiment to try in the NRC when pocock, McMahon and hodgo get picked ahead of him for the wallabies, you know when the team gets picked on form

[GIGS20]

It's cute how you think hodgo has a chance of taking the field for the wallabies despite topping tackles, pilfer and coming close in forced penalties, he's only like second or third in total runs and tries and doesn't live in Bondi.