Making the case for the Crusaders' silent assassin, George Bridge
Crusaders wing George Bridge is a curious case.
The 23-year-old is a genuine Super Rugby star that hasn’t quite broken out, despite having a breakout year on paper.
If you watch him regularly you’ll know just how good he is, but to the casual fan, Bridge has a tendency to slip under the radar.
Perhaps it’s a result of the surplus of star power already present in his 12 All Black teammates. Maybe the winger is viewed simply as the beneficiary of a finely-tuned Crusaders machine – a machine that has pumped out gaudy numbers and lost just three games across Bridge’s first two seasons.
If you watch Bridge play for long enough, you’ll know that he isn’t simply the product of a system. You’ll see everything you want in an outside back. In just his second Super Rugby season, he already has the on-field polish and astronomical numbers that place him up there with the best of the best.
When the first All Blacks squad of the season was named, all of the buzz was surrounding Hurricanes wing Ben Lam’s impressive frame, skill set and above all else, mind-boggling strike rate. Lam’s eventual omission from the national side drew headlines, while Bridge continued to silently build his case.
The youngster showed flashes in his first season with the Crusaders, scoring hat tricks against the Stormers and Cheetahs as he carved out an eight-try debut year. Bridge’s efforts earned him the Crusaders’ Rookie of the Year award and a four-year contract extension.
In his sophomore Super Rugby campaign, Bridge is already repaying the faith shown by his side and has quietly put together one of the most impressive individual seasons in recent memory.
His numbers alone speak volumes about his talents on the park. Through 17 games, Bridge has chalked up 1571 metres with ball in hand, broken the line 21 times, and busted through 54 tackles. He leads the Crusaders – Super Rugby’s best team – in all three of these categories, and is near the top when ranked against all Super Rugby players (fourth overall in run metres, third overall in line breaks). He also leads the Crusaders in both games and minutes played.
His 15 tries would have tied the Super Rugby single-season record had the aforementioned Lam not eclipsed the mark last weekend, though Bridge will get another shot at history when his side meets the Lions in the Super Rugby final this weekend.
While Bridge’s numbers impress without context, once context is added they shine even brighter.
Bridge more than holds his own when compared with the five outside backs the All Blacks carried for their June Test series against France – Rieko Ioane, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jordie Barrett and Ben Smith. While it will be incredibly tough for the 23-year-old to usurp one of the incumbent outside backs, the statistics show that he isn’t far off the pace and should be the first cab off the rank if injury strikes.
When compared with his Kiwi counterparts, Bridge ranks second in metres gained, first in line breaks and third in tackle busts. While he has played one more game than Naholo and Barrett, and two more games than Ioane and Smith, his per game figures still hold up.
Once averaged out, Bridge – who has played both wing and fullback this season – carries the ball just over nine times per game, and runs for just over 92 metres per game, both of which would rank second among All Blacks outside backs. He would also rank second in line breaks per game at 1.2, just behind Rieko Ioane. While his distribution falls behind when compared with the current All Black crop in terms of offloads and try assists, his nose for the line and competition-leading strike rate more than proves his attacking prowess.
But Bridge is more than just a finisher. On the other side of the ball, the Gisbornian has emerged as a superb defender statistically. Bridge ranks third among Crusaders backs in terms of tackles made, and converts his tackle attempts at 85.5%. His tackle completion percentage ranks only behind Ben Smith (86%) when compared to current All Blacks outside backs, and is more than ten percent higher than the next best defender, Jordie Barrett at 75%.
After impressing during the Crusaders’ run to their second consecutive final, Bridge will have one last chance to make a statement before the Rugby Championship.
At just 23 years old and locked down with the Crusaders until 2022, George Bridge’s scintillating form and continued development should place him firmly in the All Black frame for years to come.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments