The Brumbies were the front runners and claimed the title in a tournament that grew better and better... the stats have revealed the TOTS...

The 10-round Super Rugby AU tournament culminated in the Brumbies finishing top of the ladder to claim a home final. The qualifying final saw the Reds [second on ladder] host the Melbourne Rebels [third on ladder] who pipped the NSW Waratahs for the last qualifying spot by just one for and against point after they finished level on points on the ladder. The Reds proved too strong in Brisbane [winning 25-13] for the Rebels who were appearing in their first ever finals Super Rugby match.

The Brumbies were the front runners all tournament and their impressive squad were going to take a lot of beating at home. Indeed they had won their last seven matches at home against the Reds and were just too strong on the day despite a comeback by the Queenslanders. The Brumbies ran out 28-23 winners to claim their first Super Rugby trophy since their title win in 2004.

The squad contribution was immense from the Brumbies mirroring that of the Crusaders in New Zealand and the Canberrans contribute three players to the Team of the Season. After achieving a breakthrough season with their first-ever appearance in the Finals the Rebels contributed five players to TOTS with the NSW Waratahs providing three players, the Reds three and the Western Force one. The TOTS Opta Perform table below highlights the statistics that merited the selections.

 

Player of the Season is QLD Reds Number 8, Harry Wilson, who was simply outstanding in his debut Super Rugby season. The former Australian U20 representative was super consistent and impressed enough to make his first Wallaby squad for the forthcoming Bledisloe Cup series and The Rugby Championship later in the year. His work rate was sensational and he was the only player to make +100 tackle and carries in the tournament.

 

15

Dane Haylett-Petty

Rebels

Haylett-Petty gained an average of 82m per game, the most of any player in Super Rugby AU; he also made three clean breaks, beat eight defenders, and scored two tries.

14

Marika Koroibete

Rebels

Koroibete made 11 clean breaks and beat 25 defenders from his 90 carries in Super Rugby AU, as well as making eight offloads, gaining 556m, and scoring three tries.

13

Alex Newsome

NSW Waratahs

Newsome made three break passes and six clean breaks throughout Super Rugby AU, as well as gaining an average of seven metres per carry from his 47 carries and crossed for three tries from his eight games.

12

Irae Simone

Brumbies

Simone's 86 tackles were more than any other outside back in Super Rugby AU; he also made nine clean breaks, beat 19 defenders, and made four try assists.

11

Filipo Daugunu

Reds

Daugunu scored more tries (6), made more carries (117), gained more metres (771), beat more defenders (36), and made more offloads (13) than any other player in Super Rugby AU.

10

Matt Toomua

Rebels

Toomua's 115 kicks in play were the second-most of any player and he was one of only five players to assist a try by kick in Super Rugby AU; he finished with three try assists, and 96 total points.

9

Joe Powell

Brumbies

Powell's nine break passes were the most of any player in Super Rugby AU; he also made three try assists, scored two tries, made four clean breaks, and three offloads, as well as 44/55 tackles throughout the campaign.

1

Cameron Orr

Rebels

Of the three try assists made by props in Super Rugby AU, two came from Orr; he also beat seven defenders, made three clean breaks, and won two turnovers throughout the season.

2

Folau Fainga'a

Brumbies

Fainga'a scored five tries - more than any other forward - and finished Super Rugby AU with the second-highest throw success rate (85%) of any player to make at least 30 throws.

3

Harry Johnson-Holmes

NSW Waratahs

Johnson-Holmes crossed for three tries throughout Super Rugby AU while no other prop scored more than one; he also made three clean breaks, 66/74 tackles, and won one turnover.

4

Matt Philip

Rebels

Philip's 99 carries were the second-most of any forward in Super Rugby AU; he also stole four lineouts, made 56/67 tackles, beat 14 defenders, and made three offloads from his nine appearances.

5

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto

Reds

Salakaia-Loto won 35 lineouts on his team's own throw - the third most of any player - as well as stealing two lineouts; he also made 90 carries and 88 tackles, while his nine offloads were the most of any forward.

6

Fergus Lee-Warner

Force

Lee-Warner's 13.5 tackles per game were the second-most of any player in Super Rugby AU; he also made 9.3 carries per game and won a total of five turnovers and 30 lineouts throughout the campaign.

7

Michael Hooper

NSW Waratahs

Hooper won 10 turnovers - one of only three players to win 10+ in Super Rugby AU - as well as making 101 tackles, seven offloads, and 75 carries for 192m gained.

8

Harry Wilson

Reds

Harry Wilson made 112 carries and 120 tackles, the only player to make 100+ in both categories in Super Rugby AU; he also gained 308 metres, won five turnovers, and scored three tries as his Reds' went all the way to the final.

 

Brumby Folau Faing'a was the standout hooker with five tries - the most of any forward

The Opta Index allows genuine opportunities to compare and contrast both player and team strengths and weaknesses across Super Rugby, providing real insights pre-game as follows:  After every match Opta completes a video analysis of every touch of the ball. Each action in the match is awarded a points value depending on the relative importance of the action. So for example, a try scores more points than a tackle, but a player loses points for a missed tackle. The player is then given a score for the match by adding up all his actions while he was on the field. The total match score is then weighted to take account of the strength of the opposition so that performances across many matches can be judged fairly.