Statistics - SF ball use
The semi-finals rushed pass us in great tension as four teams fought for two places. Twenty had become eight, eight four and then, after the weekend, there were two.
Mercifully there was nothing like the controversy of one of the quarter-finals.
We have already given some stats of getting possession
Sounsdsure have given us some statistics which show how possession was used.
Later we shall discuss some incidents from the two matches - just to keep our knowledge of the laws shiny.
The statistics on possession time, passes and kicks seem to suggest that the best thing to do is get rid of the ball, defend like blazes and exploit mistakes.
1. Possession Time
(i) England vs France
England: 19 minutes 11 seconds
France: 21 minutes 02 seconds
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 16 minutes 22 seconds
South Africa: 15 minutes 33 seconds.
As in the quarter-finals the team with possession longer lost.
2. Passes
(i) England vs France
England: 103
France: 128
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 83
South Africa: 74
In each match the team that passed more lost.
As in the quarter-finals, the team that passed more lost.
3. Kicks
(i) England vs France
England: 39
France: 46
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 38
South Africa: 48
Of the eight teams in the quarter-finals and the four teams in the final, France was the only team to kick more than its opponents and lose. That was in the semi-final,
4. Ruck & Maul (the number lost is in brackets)
(i) England vs France
England: 84 (5)
France: 80 (6)
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 55 (8)
South Africa: 45 (10)
5. Turn-overs in general play
(i) England vs France
England: 6
France: 6
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 13
South Africa: 9
6. Getting possession from penalty, free kick, scrum, line-out
(i) England vs France
England: 28
France: 37
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 38
South Africa: 46
7. Tries scored
(i) England vs France
England: 1
France: 0
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 1
South Africa: 4
Penalty kicks at goal with successful kicks in brackets
England: 3 (2)
France: 3 (3)
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 4 (2)
South Africa: 4 (3)
Drop goal attempts with successful kicks in brackets
England: 4 (1)
France: 4 (0)
(ii) Argentina vs South Africa
Argentina: 1 (0)
South Africa: 2 (0)
One successful drop goal out of 11 attempts is not all that rewarding!