S14 - Week 7, Part 2

Stats

Here we give stats concerning getting possession, mainly at scrums and line-outs.

We mentioned last week that there was a free kick for a skew put-in into a scrum. There was not one this weekend. One scrumhalf would plaintively say after many a scrum: "Skew, Mr Ref." The evidence of the eyes suggested that he had a strong case, but "Mr Ref" took no notice.

Is there any point in having the skew put-in in the laws if it is to be treated with disdain. There used to be an argument about foot-up that it was the de fact state of affairs be tolerated as being workable and preferable to the chaos that would ensue were it scrapped.

Foot-up is now, de facto, scrapped. So it seems is the skew put-in.

The argument for preserving them is that the principle of fair contest should be remained and that the scrum is part of the mystique of the rugby game. To weaken it, weakens the game and also changes it from a game suitable for all shapes and sizes. The prop shape then becomes redundant.

So, should "Mr Ref" take note if it is skew?

The laws require it and from time to time there are pious statements demanding that referees apply the law. Abeyance then becomes the reality.

In this section we have had help from Soundsure with its excellent statistics geared to reportage on the refereeing of the matches has made our statistics easier to gather and more comprehensive.

The total of penalties, free kicks, line-outs, scrums, including resets, and drop-outs makes up stoppages.

To go to the progressive tables showing penalties and disciplinary sanctions, click here. For those showing tries and kicks, click here.

(i) Waratahs vs Blues

Penalties conceded

Waratahs: 7
Blues: 12

Line-outs

Waratahs:  12 (2 lost, 1 penalty)
Blues: 18 (3 lost, 1 skew, 1 free kick)

Scrums

Waratahs: 10 (4 reset, 1 penalty)
Blues: 9 (1 reset, 1 free kick)

Free kicks

Waratahs: 1 (mark)
Blues: 2 (1 line-out, 1 scrum)

Drop-outs

Waratahs: 1
Blues: 1

Stoppages: 78

Kicks

Waratahs: 37
Blues: 21

Tackle/ruck/maul: 145

Advantage:

Played: 25
Effected: 12

(ii) Highlanders vs Cats

Penalties conceded

Highlanders: 10
Cats: 17

Line-outs

Highlanders: 19 (4 lost, 3 free kicks)
Cats: 25 (3 lost, 2 quick, 1 skew, 1 free kick, 1 penalty)

Scrums

Highlanders: 13 (4 reset, 1 penalty)
Cats: 10

Free kicks

Highlanders: 2 (line-outs)
Cats: 1 (line-out)

Drop-outs

Highlanders: 1
Cats: 1

Stoppages: 103

Kicks

Highlanders: 37
Cats: 22

Tackles/rucks/mauls: 221

Advantage:

Played: 25
Effected: 12

(iii) Hurricanes vs Sharks

Penalties conceded

Hurricanes: 10
Sharks: 10

Line-outs

Hurricanes: 14 (2 lost, 1 free kick)
Sharks: 20 (4 lost, 1 free kick)

Scrums

Hurricanes: 8 (1 reset)
Sharks: 10 (2 reset)

Free kicks

Hurricanes: 2 (1 line-out, 1 mark)
Sharks: 1 (line-out)

Drop-outs:

Hurricanes: 2
Sharks: 2

Stoppages: 86

Kicks

Hurricanes: 34
Sharks: 28

Tackles/rucks/mauls: 161

Advantage:

Played: 23
Effected: 9

(iv) Force vs Bulls

Penalties conceded

Force: 7
Bulls: 4

Line-outs

Force: 26 (5 lost, 1 reset, 3 quick)
Bulls: 19 (2 lost, 1 free kick)

Scrums

Force: 9 (5 reset, 2 free kicks, 3 penalties)
Bulls: 10 (1 reset)

Free kicks

Force: 0
Bulls: 3 (2 scrums, 1 line-out)

Drop-outs:

Force: 0
Bulls: 1

Stoppages: 86

Kicks

Force: 27
Bulls: 32

Tackles/rucks/mauls: 147

Advantage:

Played: 26
Effected: 10

(v) Cheetahs vs Reds

Penalties conceded

Cheetahs: 11
Reds: 9

Line-outs

Cheetahs: 21 (1 lost, 1 skew, 1 free kick, 2 quick)
Reds: 19 (5 lost, 1 quick, 1 skew)

Scrums

Cheetahs: 11 (4 reset, 1 free kick)
Reds: 10 (5 reset, 1 free kick)

Free kicks

Cheetahs: 3 (1 line-out, 2 scrums)
Reds: 2 (marks)

Drop-outs

Cheetahs: 4
Reds: 2

Stoppages:  101

Kicks

Cheetahs: 33
Reds: 43

Tackles/rucks/mauls: 125

Advantage:

Played: 25
Effected: 11

(vi) Brumbies vs Chiefs 

Penalties conceded

Brumbies: 11
Chiefs: 10

Line-outs

Brumbies: 11 (3 lost, 1 free kick)
Chiefs: 14 (2 lost)

Scrums

Brumbies: 13 (9 reset, 1 penalty, 1 free kick)
Chiefs: 14 (3 reset, 1 penalty, 1 free kick, 2 wheels)

In 27 scrums there were 18 without a natural conclusion.

Free kicks

Brumbies: 3 (1 line-out, 2 scrums)
Chiefs: 1 (mark)

Drop-outs

Brumbies: 3
Chiefs: 1

Stoppages: 93

Kicks

Brumbies: 22
Chiefs: 18

Tackles/rucks/mauls: 164

Advantage:

Played: 20
Effected: 4

Some Match Totals

Stoppages

Blues vs Hurricanes: 79
Force vs Brumbies: 106
Cheetahs vs Bulls: 85
Crusaders vs Hurricanes: 88
Reds vs Waratahs: 94
Cats vs Stormers: 80
Sharks vs Chiefs: 78
Hurricanes vs Blues: 89
Cats vs Chiefs: 94
Bulls vs Brumbies: 94
Hurricanes vs Force: 105
Reds vs Crusaders: 73
Sharks vs Cheetahs: 81
Stormers vs Waratahs: 78
Hurricanes vs Cats: 91
Force vs Chiefs: 99
Crusaders vs Sharks: 89
Reds vs Blues: 91
Bulls vs Waratahs: 88
Cheetahs vs Hurricanes: 95
Stormers vs Brumbies: 91
Chiefs vs Reds: 88
Brumbies vs Cats: 95
Waratahs vs Sharks: 72
Crusaders vs Blues: 75
Stormers vs Hurricanes: 88
Cheetahs vs Hurricanes: 91
Chiefs vs Crusaders: 89
Waratahs vs Cats: 90
Brumbies vs Sharks: 88
Reds vs Force: 82
Bulls vs Hurricanes: 91
Stormers vs Hurricanes: 86
Blues vs Brumbies: 80
Crusaders vs Cats: 90
Bulls vs Hurricanes: 89
Hurricanes vs Sharks: 86
Force vs Waratahs: 94
Stormers vs Cheetahs: 74
Waratahs vs Blues: 78
Brumbies vs Chiefs: 93
Cheetahs vs Reds: 101
Hurricanes vs Sharks: 86
Highlanders vs Cats: 103
Force vs Bulls: 86

Most stoppages: Force vs Brumbies
Fewest stoppages: Waratahs vs Sharks