The Super Rugby TOTW has representatives from seven of the teams this week, with the Crusaders and Chiefs leading the way with three representatives each. The Jaguares impressive win in Durban against the Sharks means two of their team win selection also.

The halfway mark Round 9 produced four home wins and two away wins as the Stormers upset the Rebels in Melbourne ahead of the Jaguares win. The Chiefs have now won three straight after a poor start to the season, as have the Crusaders. Entering the second half of the season the Rebels lead in Australia, the Crusaders in New Zealand and Bulls in South Africa but there is all to play for and Finals positions are up for grabs in all conferences.

Jaguares flanker Pablo Matera had a huge match in Durban making 10 tackles without missing any and was one of just two forwards to cross the try line more than once, as well as gaining 53 metres, making three breaks and beating three defenders. Bulls lock RG Snyman made the most metres (55), breaks (3) and beat the most defenders (4) of any tight five forward as well as throwing three offloads, providing one try assist, and catching five lineouts. Lions hooker Malcolm Marx is back in the team this week. He found a teammate with 10 of his 12 lineout throws, gained 40 metres from his 13 carries and in defence made 10 tackles and won a turnover.

Behind the scrum Will Genia of the Rebels makes the team for the second consecutive week. Made over twice as many carries as any other scrum half (13), beating three defenders in the process and scoring a try. Centre Matias Orlando became the third different player to score a hat-trick for the Jaguares and the first to do so outside of Argentina, while only two backs could better his tally of 12 tackles in this round.

Crusaders wing Sevu Reece continues to impress once again and is proving to be an outstanding attacking weapon out wide. He makes the team once again and is Player of the Week after a round-high five clean breaks from just eight carries, gaining 108 metres, crossing for a try and assisting in one too.
 

15

Melani Nanai

Blues

No player made more carries (20) or metres (153) than the Blues fullback who also beat seven defenders and crossed for a try against the Chiefs.

14

Sevu Reece

Crusaders

Sevu Reece made a round-high five clean breaks from just eight carries, gaining 108 metres, crossing for a try and assisting one too, in defence he also won three turnovers - more than any other back.

13

Matias Orlando

Jaguares

Became the third different player to score a hattrick for the Jaguares and the first to do so outside of Argentina, while only two backs could better his tally of 12 tackles in this round.

12

Anton Lienert-Brown

Chiefs

Made the second most tackles of any back (13), winning a turnover in the process, while he also beat seven defenders from just nine carries and made a round-high five offloads.

11

Aphiwe Dyantyi

Lions

Beat six defenders and gained 110 metres from his 17 carries, crossing the try line once in the process.

10

Richie Mo'unga

Crusaders

Beat the most defenders of any fly half (7) and made the second most offloads of any player in Round 9 (4), Mo'unga also kicked four goals as his Crusaders side beat the Highlanders.

9

Will Genia

Rebels

Made over twice as many carries as any other scrum half (13), beating three defenders in the process and scoring a try.

1

Karl Tu'inukuafe

Blues

Beat the most defenders of any prop (3), from just seven carries, as well as making five tackles in defence.

2

Malcolm Marx

Lions

Found a teammate with 10 of his 12 lineout throws, gained 40 metres from his 13 carries and in defence made 10 tackles and won a turnover.

3

Michael Alaalatoa

Crusaders

One of just two props to make a clean break in Round 9, doing so from just eight carries, as well as chipping in with five tackles.

4

Brodie Retallick

Chiefs

Made 19 tackles in Round 9, only two players made more, as well as making 10 carries and three offloads - the joint most of any forward.

5

RG Snyman

Bulls

Made the most metres (55), breaks (3) and beat the most defenders (4) of any tight five forward as well as throwing three offloads, providing one try assist, and catching five lineouts

6

Pablo Matera

Jaguares

Made 10 tackles without missing any and was one of just two forwards to cross the try line more than once, as well as gaining 53 metres, making three breaks and beating three defenders.

7

Lachlan Boshier

Chiefs

One of two forwards to cross the try line more than once in Round 9, made 15/16 tackles and won a turnover.

8

Paul Schoeman

Bulls

Gained the most metres of any forward (94), made 10 tackles without missing and won three turnovers - only one player won more.

 

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.