Rugby: Attacking players already standing out after four rounds

Chiefs outside back James Lowe, 22, re-signed with the Chiefs for another two years. Photo / NZME.

After four rounds a Super Rugby pattern is starting to emerge around who's performing well this season.

Granted, some are always slow starters - usually anybody wearing a Crusaders jersey - and then some have shot to prominence in the early stages.

Let's look at attacking players.

Chiefs outside back James Lowe has enjoyed a breakout campaign. During the ITM Cup, he regularly looked to get his hands on the ball for Tasman and that form has continued to the next level.

He's made the third-most carries (42) in the competition, has carved off the most metres (394), while he is also inside the top 10 for defenders beaten. Most importantly, he's also made the most clean breaks with eight.

Lowe, 22, re-signed with the Chiefs for another two years last month and when he put pen to paper, Chiefs coach Dave Rennie offered this assessment. "James is a big, quick and powerful winger with a massive left foot. His ability to beat defenders and play anywhere in the back three is a huge asset."

Rennie has been proven right.

Israel Folau was a one-man wrecking crew last season as the Waratahs stormed to the title and that has carried over into 2015.

Folau is inside the top five for defenders beaten, offloads, metres and carries. He's dangerous when returning the ball, which makes sides think twice about punting the ball long in his direction. The Wallaby is at his most dangerous when he can work in space. At fullback he is given that time to roam so the most efficient way to shut him down is to try and take him out of the game by kicking the ball away from him.

Meanwhile, you can crunch all the numbers you like but there will always be an exception to the rule.

The Highlanders beat the Chiefs 20-17 on Friday night and they had no business doing so. The Highlanders had only 29 per cent territory and 38 per cent possession but they made the most of it. It's the type of game the Chiefs will look back on and think: 'How did that happen?'.

The numbers

4.67

Waisake Naholo leads the competition in defenders beaten per game. Not wanted by the Blues, he has made good after being picked up by the Highlanders this season

3
Waratahs fullback Israel Folau is tossing around offloads like it's not a big deal, serving up three per game. He has been at his dominant best this season and is near the top of a range of attacking categories

67
Lappies Labuschagne, the Bulls flanker, has been everywhere this season. He's made 67 tackles, the most in Super Rugby

53
Western Force loose forward Ben McCalman has carried the ball 53 times this season, nine more than closest rival, Stormers' Cheslin Kolbe

8.5
The Brumbies are the only team who are giving away less than 10 penalties per game