The TOTW has players from just six teams this week and is dominated by Crusaders, Highlanders and Brumbies after results locked in the four home quarter-finalist and left eight teams fighting for the final four spots. 

The Crusaders were in irresistible form in Round 17 despatching the Rebels in Christchurch by 66-0. The backs ran riot after the pack took control of the match with wings Braydon Ennor and Sevu Reece scoring three tries each; center Ryan Crotty scored a try, beat the second most defenders (9) of any player while making the most metres (90) in his position; fly-half Richie Mo'unga kicked 7/8 conversions, produced four try assists, and ran for the second-most metres (73) by a No.10.; and Player of the Week fullback David Havili scored two tries, made the most carries (19) of any player, ran for the most metres (177), making three clean breaks and beating six defenders.

The Brumbies secured top spot in the Australian Conference with a solid win in their derby against the Waratahs in Sydney. In the front row Alan Ala'alatoa made seven carries and 10/11 of his tackles, while hooker Folau Fainga scored a try, nailed 11/11 lineout throws and made the most running metres (53), clean breaks (4) and defenders beaten (4) by a hooker. Meanwhile lock Rory Arnold scored a try, made 7/7 tackles, and won nine lineouts (incl. one steal), the most of any player in Round 17.
 

Despite playing out a thrilling draw with the Bulls the Highlanders has some standout performers including scrum-half Aaron Smith who made 10/10 tackles, lock Jackson Hemopo who made three off-loads and won three turnovers and centre Rob Thomson who beat 10 defenders, the most of any player in the Round. 

Other notable performers were: Jaguares flanker Pablo Matera in Buenos Aires, no player in his position made more carries (11), offloads (3) or won more turnovers (3); Stormers No.8 Jaco Coetzee who scored two tries and was the only No.8 to win multiple turnovers (2) and beat five defenders. 

 

15

David Havili

Crusaders

Scored two tries, made the most carries (19) of any player in Round 17 and he ran for the most metres (177), making three clean breaks and beating six defenders while only two players produced more than his eight kicks in play (Hayden Parker - 13 and Jordie Barrett - 11).

14

Sevu Reece

Crusaders

Scored three tries, produced a try assist, made the most clean breaks (7) of any player and beat five defenders in his 137 running metres (second most of any player).

13

Rob Thompson

Highlanders

Beat the most defenders (10) of any player in Round 17, came up with a try assist and no No.13 made more than his three offloads and four clean breaks.

12

Ryan Crotty

Crusaders

Scored a try, made a try assist, kicked a conversion, beat the second most defenders (9) of any player while making the most metres (90) and the second-most carries (13) in his position.

11

Braydon Ennor

Crusaders

Scored three tries and made 105 running metres, six clean breaks, an offload and beat seven defenders in 10 carries while making 7/7 tackles.

10

Richie Mo'unga

Crusaders

Kicked 7/8 conversions, no player produced more than his four try assists, and ran for the second-most metres (73) by a No.10. 

9

Aaron Smith

Highlanders

Made the most tackles by a No.9 in Round 17 and didn't miss a single attempt (10/10), also made the most carries (13), offloads (3) and equal-most kicks in play (7) in his position.

1

Steven Kitshoff

Stormers

Came up with a try assist, an offload, made 9/9 tackles, won 2 lineouts and a turnover.

2

Folau Fainga'a

Brumbies

Scored a try, nailed 11/11 lineout throws, the most by any player in Round 17 with a 100% success rate, and made the most running metres (53), clean breaks (4) and defenders beaten (4) by a hooker.

3

Allan Alaalatoa

Brumbies

Made seven carries and 10/11 of his tackles.

4

Rory Arnold

Brumbies

Scored a try, made 7/7 tackles, and won nine lineouts (incl. one steal), the most of any player in Round 17.

5

Jackson Hemopo

Highlanders

Only one player in his position made more than his 11 carries (Izack Rodda - 13); Hemopo made the equal-most offloads (3) and won the most turnovers (3) in his position as well as three lineouts.

6

Pablo Matera

Jaguares

No player in his position made more carries (11), offloads (3) or won more turnovers (3) in Round 17.

7

Michael Hooper

NSW Waratahs

Made the most carries (12) and beat the most defenders (3) by an open-side flanker in Round 17, only one player in his position won more than his 2 turnovers (Ardie Savea - 4).

8

Jaco Coetzee

Stormers

Scored two tries, was the only No.8 to win multiple turnovers (2), while no forward beat more than his five defenders in Round 17 while only one made more than his 72 running metres (Scott Higginbotham - 75).

 



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.