The Super Rugby TOTW has representatives from 8 of the teams following another action packed round that saw two draws and five home wins as away teams struggled on the road.

The results have added to the already competitiveness of this year's tournament: the Australian Conference now has joint leaders (Rebels and Brumbies) with just three points separating first and fourth (Waratahs); in South Africa six points separate first [Bulls] and fifth [Lions]; in New Zealand the Crusaders and Hurricanes look a safe bet for Finals but Highlanders, Blues and Chiefs all still in Finals reckoning.

Brumbies hooker Folau Fa' ainga appears for second week running and continues to impress - he became just the second hooker to score a hat-trick of tries in Super Rugby in the last nine seasons alongside Adriaan Strauss (Rd 7, 2018) and is now the top try scorer with 10 tries.

The Highlanders have four players in this week including: lock Jackson Hemopo who beat the joint-most defenders of any forward (5), as well as making three offloads, winning two turnovers, and making three clean breaks; and young fly-half Josh Ioane who is another to make it two weeks in a row as he continues to mature at the top level - he made three clean breaks, beat five defenders, and finished with a personal tally of 16 points for the game, kicking 5/5 goals and scoring a try.

Player of the Wek is Chiefs flanker Luke Jacobson was instrumental in his teams fight back against the Highlanders in Dunedin with a mighty all-round performance - he made the joint-most clean breaks (3) of any forward, as well as making two offloads and gaining 58m from his 10 carries, completing 15/16 tackle attempts, winning two turnovers, and crossing for a try.  

 

15

Ben Smith

Highlanders

Only Samu Kerevi (23) made more carries than Ben Smith (17), who also crossed for a try, made two offloads, and seven kicks in play.

14

Jock Campbell

Reds

Gained a round-high 146m - 50m more than any other player - as well as making four clean breaks and beating six defenders.

13

Rob Thompson

Highlanders

Beat the joint second-most defenders of any player (7) from his 12 carries, as well as making two offloads and completing 6/7 tackles.

12

Samu Kerevi

Reds

Made a round-high 23 carries from which he made three clean breaks, beat seven defenders, and gained 96m.

11

Curtis Rona

Waratahs

Made the most offloads (4) of any back, as well as making four clean breaks, gaining 85m, and scoring a try from his 14 carries.

10

Josh Ioane

Highlanders

Made three clean breaks, beat five defenders, and finished with a personal tally of 16 points for the game, kicking 5/5 goals and scoring a try.

9

Tate McDermott

Reds

Beat six defenders - three times as many as any other scrumhalf - as well as making a clean break, and offload, and nine carries for 31m gained.

1

Lizo Gqoboka

Bulls

Gained the most metres (35) of any prop, as well as making two clean breaks and 6/8 tackles.

2

Folau Fainga'a

Brumbies

Became just the second hooker to score a hat-trick of tries in Super Rugby in the last nine seasons alongside Adriaan Strauss (Rd 7, 2018).

3

Allan Alaalatoa

Brumbies

Made 14 tackles - the most of any prop - without missing a single attempt, as well as winning two turnovers and making five carries.

4

Jackson Hemopo

Highlanders

Beat the joint-most defenders of any forward (5), as well as making three offloads, winning two turnovers, and making three clean breaks.

5

RG Snyman

Bulls

Made a round-high five offloads, as well as making 10 carries for 23m gained, and completing 6/8 tackles.

6

Luke Jacobson

Chiefs

Made the joint-most clean breaks (3) of any forward, as well as making two offloads and gaining 58m from his 10 carries, completing 15/16 tackle attempts, winning two turnovers, and crossing for a try.

7

Cobus Wiese

Stormers

Made the joint-most tackles of any player (19), as well as winning four lineouts - including one steal - and beating two defenders.

8

Daniel du Preez

Sharks

Made 17/18 tackles, 10 carries for 35m, beat three defenders, and won 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.