The Super Rugby Team of the Week is an interesting mix from the semi-finals with the Crusaders leading the way with six players. Dynamic Lions' flanker Kwagga Smith is Player of the Week.

In an action-packed display the backrower scored two tries in his teams' win over the Waratahs. He won three turnovers , carried 11 times for 109 metres and beat 10 defenders. 

 

15

Israel Folau

Waratahs

Beat eight defenders, the most of any outside back, made 11 carries, and crossed for a try.

14

George Bridge

Crusaders

Made two clean breaks from 10 carries, made 6/7 tackles, and scored a try.

13

Jack Goodhue

Crusaders

Made a round-high three offloads, beat four defenders, and made 12/13 tackles winning two turnovers in the process.

12

Kurtley Beale

Waratahs

Gained 52m from seven carries, made two clean breaks, and made 8/10 tackles.

11

Ben Lam

Hurricanes

Claimed a Super Rugby record by scoring his 16th try of the season.

10

Richie Mo'unga

Crusaders

Scored more points (15) than any other player, contrinbuted a try assist, and beat a round-high 11 defenders.

9

TJ Perenara

Hurricanes

Made eight carries, the most of any scrumhalf, beat two defenders, and made an offload.

8

Kieran Read

Crusaders

Made 16 carries, more than any other player, as well as making 16/16 tackle attempts.

7

Matt Todd

Crusaders

Made a round-high 21 tackles without missing a single attempt.

6

Kwagga Smith

Lions

Gained a round-high 109m, the most of any flanker since July 2017, while he also won the most turnovers (3) and scored two tries.

5

Franco Mostert

Lions

Won a round-high seven lineouts, including one lineout steal, made 13/15 tackles, and 10 carries.

4

Scott Barrett

Crusaders

Made 14 carries, the third most of any player, beat a defender, and made 5/5 tackles.

3

Jeff Toomaga-Allen

Hurricanes

Made 14 tackles, the most of any prop forward, won a lineout, and made three carries.

2

Malcolm Marx

Lions

Made nine successful lineout throws, won two turnovers and scored two tries in his side's win over the Waratahs.

1

Tom Robertson

Waratahs

Gained 17m from eight carries, beat two defenders, made 6/6 tackles, and crossed for a try.

 

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.