Why Pieter-Steph du Toit is a Springboks gift that keeps on giving

He's never had the opportunity to enjoy great Australian passion playing for his team. It's sad and no wonder he's not really that interested or motivated.

He will just coast thru next year pretending to put a bit of effort in to playing for the Tahs then he'll be off overseas.

And Lomax, well, b...... kiwis bludging off Australians, again. Kerr Barlow, Ben Franks, etc. Strewth.

I am more surprised that their stats match Ireland to be fair, Ireland's ability to compete with SA over their two series was incredible.

Also, who is your pick for the AB's backrow?

Cane + Savea are smaller, but Savea is certainly stronger than most in that back row, maybe Valetini is big enough. I don't think Cane is likely to start this next game with Ethan Blackadder back, so it will likely be Sititi, Savea, Blackadder.

Set piece retention + disruption, tackle completion %, and ruck speed, are the stats I would pick to define a cohesive forward pack.

NZ have averaged 84.3% from lineout and 100% from own scrum feed in their last three games against top 4 opponents. Their opponents averaged 87.7% from the lineout and 79.7% from own scrum feed.

In comparison, Ireland averaged 85.3% from lineout and 74.3% from own scrum feed. Their opponents averaged 87.7% from the lineout and 100% from the scrum.

France also averaged 90.7% from lineout (very impressive) and 74.3% from own scrum feed (very bad). Their opponents averaged 95.7% from lineout (very bad) and 83.7% from scrum.

As we can see, at set piece NZ have been very good at disrupting opposition scrums while retaining own feed. However, lineout retention and disruption is bang average with Ireland and France, with the French pulling ahead. So NZ is right there in terms of cohesiveness in lineouts, and is better than both in terms of scrums. I have also only used stats from tests within the top 4.

France have averaged 85.7% tackle completion and 77.3% of rucks 6 seconds or less.

Ireland have averaged 86.3% tackle completion and 82.3% of rucks 6 seconds or less.

NZ have averaged 87% tackle completion and 80.7% or rucks 6 seconds or less.

So NZ have a higher tackle completion %, similar lineout, better scrum, and similar ruck speed.

Overall, NZ seem to have a better pack cohesiveness than France and Ireland, maybe barely, but small margins are what win big games.