McCabe the standout runner so far this season


Greg Growden, March 18, 2011


BRUMBIES fullback Pat McCabe is the standout attacking player, the Melbourne Rebels are suffering from a missed-tackle epidemic, and Australian teams are not obsessed with the pick and drive as an attacking option.

Super Rugby statistics provided by Sports Data to the Herald show that in the first month of the tournament, Australian players have been prominent in various areas - including being among the best attacking players, defenders and lineout forwards. However, several have also been exposed as weak links, particularly in the tackling department.

McCabe heads the list of players in the ''most run metres'' with 432, ahead of Blues fullback Isaia Toeava with 426, and Lions centre Doppies la Grange (362). The next best Australian player is the Brumbies centre Adam Ashley-Cooper in seventh spot with 311. McCabe is also top of the ''most runs'' category with 49, five ahead of the Lions breakaway Derick Minnie.

McCabe also features in the most line breaks, second with five, behind the Crusaders winger Sean Maitland, who has made six.

Although the data might be skewed slightly due to the fact McCabe has played four games while other players have only had three appearances, due to the bye, it is still an impressive achievement for the hard-running Brumbies No.15.

Injured Force breakaway David Pocock heads the list for ''most pilfers'' with four, one ahead of teammate Matt Hodgson and Brumbies No.8 Ita Vaea, while ACT's five-eighth Matt Giteau is No.1 for the most line-break assists with five.

One of the most impressive statistics involves Rebels back-rower Jarrod Saffy, who leads the list of most tackles with 60, five ahead of the next best - Chiefs back-rower Tanerau Latimer. The next most prolific Australian tackler is Waratahs utility forward Dave Dennis with 42. While Saffy has held the Rebels' defence together, some of his teammates haven't been so impressive.

Rebels midfielder Julian Huxley is on top of the list of missed tackles with 20. But Huxley can at least point to some of the players around him as also being erratic in that area, as next on the list is his five-eighth Danny Cipriani, who has missed 17, followed by winger Cooper Vuna with 15.

New Zealand players dominate the most pick-and-drives list, with Highlanders prop Jamie Mackintosh on top with 12, ahead of teammate Mahonri Schwalger with 11 and Nasi Manu with 10. After several Blues and Hurricanes players, the first Australian to appear is Rebels hooker Ged Robinson, and the Force second-rowers Nathan Sharpe and Sam Wykes in equal ninth spot with six pick and drives.

The statistics also prove that Highlanders forward Adam Thomson has had an impressive start to the season. He has won the most lineouts (21), is third in the most tackles made (49) and fifth in the most runs (41).

The most effective Australian lineout winner is Waratahs utility forward Ben Mowen with 17, one ahead of Brumbies second-rower Mark Chisholm. Crusaders centre Sonny Bill Williams also features, heading the list for most offloads, while Rebels prop Greg Somerville is second in most penalties conceded, with nine.