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Lies, damn lies and statistics
In round 1 this year against the Rebels, the Backs out ranked the Forwards in the TWF POTY awards tally for the first time since round 15 2011. Round 2 is neck and neck so far ...
I just had a look over the last few years:
2012 saw the Forwards take out honors for every match of the season.
However back in 2011, the backs won 8 out of 14 matches played. (Round 3 loss to sharks, Round 4 Draw Blues, Round 5 win Lions, Round 8 Loss Waratahs, Round 9 win Brumbies, Round 10 win Bulls, Round 11 Loss Crusaders and the Round 15 Loss to the Hurricanes)
In 2010 the backs only took the points on a single occasion in our round 9 win against the Highlanders
and 2009 saw the backs take honors in rounds 11,10,5,3 and 2 against the Lions, Waratahs, Crusaders, Brumbies and Cheetahs respectively - which were all wins with the exception of the round 5 draw against the Crusaders.
Going over these numbers, we have a 62.5% win rate when backs out rank forwards which would equate to 10 games over a season (Last year the 'top' (Brumbies and Reds) 2 AU teams won 11 & 10).
Given the backs are taking the points over the first 2 matches this year - could there be a glimmer of hope for this season?