Rugby: Stats make good case for Thomson

Adam Thomson of the Highlanders dives over for a try. Photo / Getty Images

Occasional All Black Adam Thomson has backed up coach Graham Henry's acclaim with strong showings across the Super 15 performance lists.

Thomson is one of a cluster of loose forwards vying for the national selectors' approval this season in the Tri-Nations internationals and the seventh World Cup. So far, the 29-year-old is making strong statements.

Thomson's credentials for an All Black recall are underlined by his prominence in the Sportsdata list of tackles made, runs, offloads, lineout takes and linebreak assists, although those details are balanced by an unwanted missed tackle figure.

It seems the blindside flanker has continued the form which provoked Henry to single him out for special mention after the Highlanders' promising start to the competition.

Thomson, said Henry, had been "the star of the first month of Super 15 rugby, particularly from the New Zealand point of view".

That observation is emphasised by the figures which show Thomson making inroads on attack and defence, carrying the ball for the fifth-highest number of runs and ranking second in the tackle list. His lineout prowess and offloading ability also rate very highly.

Crusaders midfielder Sonny Bill Williams is a runaway leader in offloading possession where his success rate is double that of the next player. He leads the linebreak assists and is high on the try assist list while his teammate Sean Maitland has a high number of linebreaks and has scored the most tries.

Blues fullback Isaia Toeava leads the run metres chart closely followed by Sharks loose forward Willem Alberts, who has also made the most number of forays.

Game patterns emerge with New Zealand teams, except the Crusaders, dominating the pick and drive figures while Rebels first five-eighths import Danny Cipriani is big on the boot.

He is the most prolific punter and has the most kick metres ahead of Morne Steyn. He rivals Williams for linebreak assists but is also the worst culprit at missed tackles.

Stormers lock Andries Bekker is the leading lineout target while Sharks hooker Bismarck du Plessis, who is in a selection duel with Springbok captain John Smit, is the runaway villain in conceding turnovers.

One stat which should have alerted the Blues for Saturday's duel at Eden Park with the Waratahs is the impact of visiting loose forward Patrick McCutcheon, who leads the breakdown steals.

The Highlanders will need to rein in their penalty concessions against the Rebels tomorrow in Melbourne with captain Jamie Mackintosh and Jarrad Hoeata their main offenders.

THE NUMBERS
* Most points: Peter Grant 100
* Most conversions: Daniel Carter 14
* Most tries: Sean Maitland 7
* Most penalty goals: Peter Grant 28
* Most tackles: Jarrod Saffy 94
* Most run metres: Isaia Toeava 724
* Most kick metres: Danny Cipriani 2936
* Most linebreaks: Digby Ioane 8
* Most offloads: Sonny Bill Williams 29
* Most penalties conceded Coenrad: Oosthuizen 19