THE NUMBERS THAT COUNT
IF YOU LIKE NUMBERS THEN WE HAVE PLENTY HERE. SOME MIGHT BE INTERESTING, OTHERS NOT SO MUCH BUT DON’T THEY LOOK PRETTY ON THE PAGE?
68
Finishing first in the roundrobin, or conference-phase, brings a 68 per cent chance of winning the competition.
13:59
The average number of minutes per game the Blues were in possession of the ball. The lowest in the competition.
2
On two occasions – the Crusaders in 1999 and the Highlanders in 2015 – the fourth-placed team has gone on to be crowned champions.
1
The number of times the team that has finished sixth has made the final. That honour belongs to the Sharks in 2012.
57
THE NUMBER OF MINUTES BEAUDEN BARRETT MISSED IN LAST YEAR’S CAMPAIGN FOR THE HURRICANES. HE WAS ON THE FIELD FOR A TOTAL OF 1383 MINUTES OUT OF A MAXIMUM OF 1440.
4
THERE ARE FOUR PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS WHO WON FROM THEIR SECONDPLACED RANKING: THE BLUES IN 1996, THE CRUSADERS IN 1998 AND 2000 AND THE BULLS IN 2007.
102
The average number of passes the Sharks made per game last year – the lowest in the competition.
21
IN THE YEARS OF SUPER RUGBY, THE TEAM THAT HAS FINISHED WITH THE NUMBER ONE RANKING HAS GONE ON TO BE CHAMPIONS 14 TIMES.
0
Interestingly, never before has a team that finished with the third ranking won the title.
80
TAKING THAT TOP RANKING GIVES TEAMS AN 80 PER CENT CHANCE OF MAKING THE FINAL.
166
The average number of passes the Crusaders made per game last year. The highest in the competition.
4
There have been four teams – Blues in 1998, Brumbies in 2000, Sharks in 2007 and Hurricanes in 2015 – who came into the playo s ranked first but lost the final on their home ground.
27
The average number of tackles the Kings missed per game last year. The highest in the competition.
25
Finishing second has meant teams have a 25 per cent chance of winning the title.
50
The odds – as in per cent – of making the final when teams finish second in the conference phase.
16
Perhaps the most telling statistic of all is that of the 77 playo games since 1996, there have only been 16 away victories. The Crusaders have been the masters of this: winning three away finals in 1998, 1999, 2000 and away semifinals in 1999 and 2011. The Highlanders won away semifinals in 1999 and 2015, an away quarterfinal in 2016 and took their one title in Wellington. The Chiefs are the only other side to manage an away win – defeating the Stormers in Cape Town last year.
34
The average number of points the Lions scored in Super Rugby last year.
45
The average number of points the Kings conceded in Super Rugby last year.
17.47
The average number of minutes per game the Blues were in possession of the ball. The highest in the competition.
14
The average number of turnovers the Stormers conceded per game last year. The lowest in the competition.
60
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF AWAY WINS.
264
THE NUMBER OF OFFLOADS MADE BY THE CRUSADERS LAST YEAR. 25 The number of games New Zealand teams won away from home.
59
THE BIGGEST WINNING MARGIN POSTED BY A NEW ZEALAND TEAM. WAS THE CRUSADERS WHEN THEY BEAT THE REBELS 85-26.
22
The number of times New Zealand teams beat Australian teams last year.
92
The most points scored by one team in a single game. Was the Cheetahs when they beat the Sunwolves.
84
THE GOALKICKING SUCCESS RATIO OF THE FORCE. THE HIGHEST IN THE COMPETITION.
79
THE TOTAL NUMBER OF HOME WINS.
15
The average number of tackles the Crusaders missed per game. The lowest in the competition.
3
THE NUMBER OF GAMES THAT WERE DRAWN.
19
The average number of turnovers the Cheetahs conceded per game last year. The highest in the competition.
142
The total number of games played last year.
27
THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF TIMES THE SHARKS KICKED IN A GAME LAST YEAR. THE HIGHEST IN THE COMPETITION.
3
The number of times Australian teams beat New Zealand teams last year.
63
The goalkicking success ratio of the Rebels. The lowest in the competition.