Rugby: Opposition can be hard to tackle even with top defensive screens

Beauden Barrett of the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

The two sides with the best tackling percentages in Super Rugby sit at opposite ends of the ladder.

The second-placed Hurricanes make 90 per cent of their tackling assignments, while the lowly Lions, who are in 13th with only one win, make 89 per cent.

As we all know, defence is only half the battle in a game of rugby and this exemplifies it.

The Lions also miss a competition-low 12.8 tackles per game; their issues are on attack where they can't make the most of the ball they do have. In contrast, the Hurricanes have logged two four-try bonus points this year.

The Hurricanes have also used their efficient tackling to contribute to the 9.8 turnovers they have forced per game; the most in Super Rugby.

Last week, we touched on the exciting attacking players in the competition but if we are being defensively-minded, who has offered the most to their teams in the tackling department?

Lions skipper Warren Whiteley leads the competition with 68 tackles, while fellow loosie Warwick Tecklen-burg has made 58; the fourth-most.

Unsurprisingly, loose forwards lead the charge with Bulls flanker Lappies Labuschagne (67) in second and Brumbies heavy-hitter Jarrad Butler (62) in third. The busiest New Zealander is Sam Cane who has made 52 tackles this season; the eighth-most in Super Rugby.

There's a handful of variables that could influence why Kiwi players aren't near the top of the pops when it comes to tackling. Namely, the New Zealand sides have greater depth so players are rotated and have played less minutes in the early season.

Also, the defensive structures around the New Zealand sides could back all their players to make tackles and put less emphasis on certain players doing a lion's share of the work.

Point of order: The 3-1 Highlanders are flipping the script when it comes to winning rugby games recently.

Following their upset of the Chiefs in round four, the southern men tipped over the Waratahs 26-19 in Dunedin last Saturday night with only 41 per cent possession.