Nehe Milner-Skudder is in the top five for running metres at the tournament. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Nehe Milner-Skudder is in the top five for running metres at the tournament. Photo / Brett Phibbs
What do the stats say? If the World Cup is decided on statistics during the tournament so far, the All Blacks have one hand on the Webb Ellis Trophy already.
DEFENSIVE STATS
TACKLES Australia: 751 New Zealand: 612
Verdict: The Wallabies are averaging a whopping 124 tackles per game, a rate notseen since the 2011 Test season when they laid on an average of 136. Kane Douglas (58) has made the fifth most tackles at the tournament, while Scott Fardy (55) is equal sixth along with France's Thierry Dusautoir, Wales' Dan Lydiate and Scotland's Richie Gray.
Verdict: An incredible disparity between the two sides, highlighting the amount of scrambling defence the Wallabies have endured, in particular in the gutsy wins over Wales and Argentina. That tenacity led World Cup winning-coach Bob Dwyer to label the current Australian defence as the best in the history of the game.
EFFECTIVE TACKLE % IN OWN 22 Australia: 87.21 New Zealand: 86.61
Verdict: Australia's effective tackle percentage jumps nearly seven per cent when defending in their own 22, highlighting the pride and resourcefulness Stephen Moore's side have developed in protecting their own line.
POINTS CONCEDED Australia: 84 New Zealand: 80
Verdict: An impressive stat for the Wallabies, given they played in a significantly tougher group than New Zealand.
TRIES CONCEDED Australia: 5 New Zealand: 4
Verdict: New Zealand has stepped up its defensive game in the playoff rounds, conceding just one quarter-final try against France and none in the semi-final against South Africa. The Wallabies, meanwhile, had one loose game against Scotland when they leaked three five-pointers.
PENALTIES CONCEDED Australia: 60 New Zealand: 55
Verdict: Both teams were disappointed with their semi-final discipline, in particular the All Blacks who fell foul of referee Jerome Garces 13 times against South Africa.
FORCED RUCK & MAUL TURNOVERS Australia: 25 New Zealand: 16
Verdict: Advantage Australia, thanks largely to wonder No 8 David Pocock, who alone is credited for 14 turnovers at the World Cup.
David Pocock looks to get a turnover. Photo / AP
LINEOUT STEALS Australia: 12 New Zealand: 19
Verdict: New Zealand's ace in this department is No 8 Kieran Read, who has a tournament-high six steals, one ahead of teammate Brodie Retallick.
YELLOW CARDS Australia: 4 New Zealand: 4
Verdict: Conrad Smith, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and Richie McCaw have all spent time in the naughty boy's corner for New Zealand, while Dean Mumm, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani and Will Genia have been the Australian culprits.
Verdict: The All Blacks feasted on some weak opposition in the pool stages and have scored the most points of any team in the tournament. Argentina (237) is second with Australia fourth.
TRIES Australia: 26 New Zealand: 36
Verdict: Another healthy win to New Zealand, with powerhouse winger Julian Savea alone dotting down eight times. Australia is equal-second in this category with Argentina.
RUN METRES Australia: 4007 New Zealand: 4807
Verdict: The All Blacks' back three of Savea (395m), Ben Smith (453) and Nehe Milner-Skudder (437) all feature in the top-five for run metres, with Argentina's Santiago Cordero (454m) topping the list. Drew Mitchell (283m) is Australia's leading metre eater.
Verdict: Again, Savea (9 clean breaks), Smith (10) and Milner-Skudder (10) all feature prominently on a list topped by Cordero and England's Anthony Watson (11). Bernard Foley is Australia's best with 8.
Ma'a Nonu makes a linebreak after an offload from Sonny Bill Williams. Photo / Brett Phibbs
TACKLE BUSTS Australia: 156 New Zealand: 172
Verdict: This category is relatively even, with 'The Bus' Savea a real weapon for the All Blacks.
OFFLOADS Australia: 42 New Zealand: 73
Verdict: No surprises here - Sonny Bill Williams has slipped a tournament-high 10 offloads, the same number as impressive Fiji lock Leone Nakarawa. Kurtley Beale is Australia's leader with 7.
