Three Premiership players that stood out statistically on opening weekend
OPTA have released their statistical rankings for the opening weekend of the 2018/19 Gallagher Premiership, with Luke Morahan, Nathan Hughes and Sam Skinner among the big winners.
Morahan led the competition with 108 metres with ball in hand and was one of just two players to break into triple figures, with Worcester Warriors’ Chris Pennell notching 100m exactly. Worcester’s Josh Adams (99), Exeter Chiefs’ Phil Dollman (95) and Sale Sharks’ Marland Yarde (94) made up the rest of the top five.
Morahan, who enjoyed a lively Premiership debut in Bristol’s 17-10 win over Bath, also topped the defenders beaten table with eight. Hughes was hot on heels with seven defenders beaten, whilst Adams, Ben Tapuai, Sam Simmonds and Santiago Cordero all managed to beat six defenders.
In addition to beating seven defenders, Wasps’ Hughes also stood out with his work rate, making 26 carries and falling just outside of the top five metre makers with 90m to his name. Exeter’s trio of Ian Whitten, Ollie Devoto (both 19) and Simmonds (18) all ranked highly for carries, as did, surprisingly, a fly-half, in the form of Wasps’ Billy Searle.
108 – On what was his @premrugby debut @BristolBears' @Ljmorahan made the most metres (108) and beat the most defenders (8) of any player on the opening weekend of action. Koala. ??? pic.twitter.com/SJG86U8jqC
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 3, 2018
Will Welch topped the tackle charts with 19 and was closely followed by club teammate Callum Chick, who had 17, as Newcastle Falcons dealt with the possession-heavy threat of Saracens. Darren Barry, Sione Kalamafoni and Michael Fitzgerald completed the top five, with 16 tackles apiece.
Devoto and Francois Venter shared the offloading crown for the week with four apiece, whilst Whitten and Cordero, both with three, showed that there’s much more to Exeter this season than route one rugby and efficient recycling.
26 – @WaspsRugby's @NateWJHughes made 26 carries against @WorcsWarriors at the weekend, seven more than any other player in round 1 and the most he has ever made in a @premrugby match. Impact. pic.twitter.com/NZC0YxAT0P
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 3, 2018
At the lineout, another Exeter player was busy ruling the roost, with Skinner accounting for nine takes, a significant margin over his closest competitors Jono Ross and Courtney Lawes, both of whom snared six throws. Dave Attwood and Calum Green popped up with five takes.
A number of players, including Green, Lawes and Maro Itoje showed up with a lineout steal, but Matt Symons was the standout defensive lineout threat, nabbing two steals and showing that the Harlequins lineout is not going to be the ineffectual unit it was last season.
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David Strettle was the king of the clean breaks with four, ahead of a host of backs with three, including Morahan, Whitten, Tapuai, Yarde and Olly Woodburn. Forwards Simmonds and Jamie George also accounted for three clean breaks.
Among the negative statistics, Heinrich Brüssow was in a league of his own with six penalties conceded, double the amount of any other player in the competition. Symons, Alec Hepburn, Ryan Mills, Dan Cole and Ben Franks all conceded three on the opening weekend.
In the missed tackle charts, Kalamafoni came out on top with seven, whilst Sam James, Matt Toomua and George Ford all showed up prominently with five missed tackles apiece.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“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.
10 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.
24 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.
10 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 comments