The Super Rugby TOTW has representatives from 10 of the teams following an easter weekend of upsets and very close action. The Lions lead the way with four players after stunning the Chiefs in Hamilton. 

The Easter weekend produced some scintillating action and some very close matches as all teams continued to press for Finals places. Five of the six matches saw winning margins of just seven points or less creating losing bonus points that may be valuable as the season unfolds.

In the Australian Conference the top four teams are only separated by six points, with the fifth placed Sunwolves slightly adrift in a season of so near yet so far for them, as they have lost four matches by single point margins this season. In South Africa just four points separates the first placed Bulls and the fifth placed Stormers. In New Zealand the Crusaders and Hurricanes are in strong positions while the Blues, Highlanders and Chiefs are still in the hunt for the Finals but need to win consistently on the run home.

Once again Sunwolves flyer Semisi Masirewa is in the TOTW having gained the most metres of any player in Round 10 (148), making a joint high four clean breaks as well as being the only player to cross the try line more than once. He is joined by Waratah fly-half Bernard Foley, the top point scorer in Round 10 (18), slotting all five of his kicks at goal and crossing for a try, as well as gaining 77 metres from just eight carries and making nine tackles. Hurricanes scrum-half was instrumental in getting his team across the line against the entertaining Sunwolves, making the most carries, metres and clean breaks of any scrum half as well as crossing for a try in Tokyo. 

The Lions front row of Sithembiso Sithole, Malcolm Marx and Carlu Sadie was super strong in Hamilton creating a great platform for an away victory while team-mate and flanker Cyle Brink was one of just five players to hit double figures for both carries (13) and tackles (12) in Round 10, as well as winning three lineouts.

Player of the Week is Brumbies lock Rory Arnold who made 24 tackles, four more than any other player in Round 10, as well as winning eight lineouts and being the only forward to both score and assist a try at the weekend.

 

 

15

Melani Nanai

Blues

Crossed for a try and beat four defenders and gained 89 metres from his 14 carries.

14

Rieko Ioane

Blues

One of just two players to gain 100+ metres in Round 10, and made a joint high four clean breaks from his 14 carries.

13

Chris Feauai-Sautia

Reds

Scored a try and gained 50 metres from his nine carries, as well as making nine tackles in defence.

12

Samu Kerevi

Reds

Made 23 carries, at least six more than any other player in Round 10, making a joint high four offloads and assisting a try.

11

Semisi Masirewa

Sunwolves

Gained the most metres of any player in Round 10 (148), making a joint high four clean breaks as well as being the only player to cross the try line more than once.

10

Bernard Foley

Waratahs

The top point scorer in Round 10 (18), slotting all five of his kicks at goal and crossing for a try, as well as gaining 77 metres from just eight carries and making nine tackles.

9

TJ Perenara

Hurricanes

Made the most carries, metres and clean breaks of any scrum half as well as crossing for a try against the Sunwolves.

1

Sithembiso Sithole

Lions

Beat the most defenders of any prop (3), from just five carriues as well as making eight tackles and winning a turnover.

2

Malcolm Marx

Lions

His 14 carries were the most of any front row forward, while he also found a teammate with 10 of his 12 lineouts and made eight tackles too.

3

Carlu Sadie

Lions

Crossed for a try and made 6/7 tackles as well as chipping in with seven carries.

4

Rory Arnold

Brumbies

Made 24 tackles, four more than any other player in Round 10, as well as winning eight lineouts and being the only forward to both score and assist a try at the weekend.

5

Jackson Hemopo

Highlanders

Beat the most defenders of any lock (3) as well as making 13 tackles and winning three lineouts.

6

Luke Jacobson

Chiefs

Only Rory Arnold made more tackles than Jacobson (20) who also gained 41 metres and made two clean breaks from his eight carries.

7

Cyle Brink

Lions

One of just five players to hit double figures for both carries (13) and tackles (12) in Round 10, as well as winning three lineouts.

8

Daniel du Preez

Sharks

Scored a try, beat five defenders and gained 30 metres from his 10 carries, as well as making nine tackles without missing and winning a turnover.

 


Opta Index: How does it work

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 points are then weighted against the score at the time when the action took place (higher points if the score is closer), the time in the match (higher points at the start of the match) and the position on the pitch where it took place (higher points for actions closer to the goal line).

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.