November Tests, Week 4 - Stats

Including some November totals

All six Six Nations teams were in action again, this time with Canada back in the mix, playing a Test in Pordenone under the Dolomites for the very first time.

We also give some totals for the November Tests, including who did best in line-outs. We see how home sides profit in the penalty count.

Later in the week we shall discuss some matters of law.

Sanctions

They have gone just a step further than only cards with the citing and suspension of Viliami Vaki, the Pacific Islands flank, for three weeks for a dangerous tackle on Chris Cusiter.

There was a rash of yellow cards this week - Richie McCaw and Andrew Hore of New Zealand for offences at the tackle/ruck, Al Campbell of Australia and Allan Jacobsen of Scotland for tackle/ruck offences, Forrest Gainer of Canada for a tackle/ruck offence and Marko Stanojevic of Italy for a dangerous tackle and Carlo Festuccia of Italy for a tackle/ruck infringement where he may have been fortunate not to have incurred one just before, and Justin Va'a of the Pacific Islands for collapsing a maul

That is the worst weekend of the month. And there were some who were perhaps lucky - Martyn Williams of Wales, whose action incurred a penalty try, Bryan Habana of South Africa for a quite deliberate tackle of a man without the ball, Nathan Sharpe of Australia for two air tackles and a late tackle and Seru Rabeni of the Pacific Islands for a gross high tackle.

Sanctions by country

The numbers are all yellow cards, except to Vaki who was cited and suspended.

It's a close-run thing between Australia and the Pacific Islands for the worst disciplinary record.

Argentina: 1 (Leguizamon)
Australia: 5 (Cannon, Tuqiri, Rogers, Waugh, Campbell)
Canada: 1
England: 0
France: 1 (Pelous)
Ireland: 1 (Leamy)
Italy: 2 (Stanojevic, Festuccia)
New Zealand: 3 (Masoe, McCaw, Hore)
Pacific Islands: 3 (Pisi, Taione, Va'a) + citing & suspension (Vaki)
Romania: 0
Scotland: 1 (Jacobsen)
South Africa: 1 (De Villiers)
Wales: 0

Match stats

(i) England vs South Africa

Penalties conceded

In this section we record the times a team was penalised.

• = points conceded

Total number of penalties: 16

England: 5
South Africa: 11

The reasons for the penalties were as follows:

England:

Tackle/ruck: 4 (White, Sanderson*, Mears, Noon)
Discipline: 1 (Palmer* - air tackle)
 
South Africa:

Tackle/ruck: 5 (Steyn, De Villiers, Muller & Botha, Ackermann)
Off-side: 3 (Januarie* Ackermann*, Floors)
Scrum: 1 (Van der Linde)
Discipline: 3 (Habana - diving on man on ground; Habana* - man without ball; Muller - shoulder)

England missed two penalty kicks at goal.

Getting possession - line-outs, scrums, free kicks, drop-outs, turn-overs

In this section the figures represent the number of times you get to play with the ball.

England:

Line-outs: 20 (2 lost 1 quick)
Scrums: 12 (8 reset, 1 free kick, 1 penalty)
Free-kicks: 0
Drop-outs: 3

South Africa:

Line-outs: 15 (2 lost, 1 quick)
Scrums: 7 (1 reset)
Free-kicks: 1 (scrum)
Drop-outs: 3

Stoppages: 86

(ii) France vs Argentina

Total number of penalties: 19

France: 9
Argentina: 10

The reasons for the penalties were as follows:

France:
Tackle/ruck: 5 (Vermeulen* 2, Jauzion, De Villiers*, Elhorga, Ibañez*)
Off-side: 1 (Bonnaire)
Discipline: 2 (Vermeulen* - collapsing maul; Bonnaire - kicking)

Argentina:
Tackle/Ruck: 8 (Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe 2, Manuel Contepomi*, Albacete, Longo, Scelzo, Nuñez Piossek, Juan Fernandez Lobbe)
Discipline: 2 (Albacete - not 10; Scelzo - late)

France missed three penalty kicks at goal.

Getting possession - line-outs, scrums, free kicks, drop-outs, turn-overs

In this section the figures represent the number of times you get to play with the ball.

France:

Line-outs: 9 (1 quick)
Scrums: 4 (3 reset, 1 free kick)
Free-kicks: 2 (1 mark, 1 scrum)
Drop-outs: 4

Argentina:

Line-outs: 19 (2 lost, 1 quick)
Scrums: 7 (7 reset, 1 lost)
Free-kicks: 0
Drop-outs: 5

Stoppages: 79

(iii) Wales vs New Zealand

Total number of penalties: 22

Wales: 8
New Zealand: 14

The reasons for the penalties were as follows:

Wales:
Tackle/Ruck: 5 (Jonathan Thomas*, Ryan Jones* 2, Rhys Thomas, Martyn Williams)
Off-side: 1 ("Everybody")
Discipline: 2 (Jonathan Thomas* - air tackle; Henson - armless tackle)

New Zealand:
Tackle/ruck: 9 (Robinson, So'oialo 2, McCaw* 3, Hore 2, Smith)
Off-side: 1 (McCaw)
Scrum: 1 (Hayman)
Discipline: 3 (Muliaina - man without ball; Collins - high; Collins - man without ball)

New Zealand missed a penalty kick at goal.

Getting possession - line-outs, scrums, free kicks, drop-outs, turn-overs

In this section the figures represent the number of times you get to play with the ball.

Wales:

Line-outs: 19 (1 lost) (Wales had four five-metre line-outs)
Scrums: 11 (8 reset, 2 free kicks)
Free-kicks: 2 (scrums)
Drop-outs: 2

New Zealand:

Line-outs: 8 (1 skew)
Scrums: 5 (1 free kick)
Free-kicks: 1 (scrum)
Drop-outs: 1

Stoppages: 79

(iv) Scotland vs Australia

Total number of penalties: 25

Scotland: 11
Australia: 14

The reasons for the penalties were as follows:

Scotland:

Tackle/ruck: 4 (Henderson, Paterson, Murray, Lamont)
Scrum: 2 (Murray* 2)
Off-side: 3 (Murray*, Southwell, Jacobsen)
Discipline: 3 (Kerr* - high; Southwell - man without ball)

Australia:

Tackle/Ruck: 7 (Lyons, Campbell 2, Smith, Waugh, Sharpe, Elsom)
Scrum: 2 (Robinson, Shepherdson)
Off-side: 1 (Moore)
Discipline: 4 (Sharpe - air tackle; Sharpe - air tackle; Sharpe - late tackle; Campbell - lifting legs)

Neither side missed a penalty kick at goal.

Getting possession - line-outs, scrums, free kicks, drop-outs, turn-overs

In this section the figures represent the number of times you get to play with the ball.

Scotland:

Line-outs: 18 (2 skew, 1 quick, 2 penalties)
Scrums: 8 (5 reset, 2 wheels, 1 penalty)
Free-kicks: 1 (line-out)
Drop-outs: 1

Australia:

Line-outs: 14 (3 lost, 1 skew, 1 free kick)
Scrums: 12 (3 reset, 2 penalties, 1 free kick)
Free-kicks: 2 (1 mark, 1 scrum)
Drop-outs: 0

Stoppages: 89

(v) Ireland vs Pacific Islands

Total number of penalties: 15

Ireland: 3
Pacific Islands: 12

The reasons for the penalties were as follows:

Ireland:

Tackle/ruck: 3 (Heaslip, Ferris, D'Arcy)

Pacific Islands:

Tackle/Ruck: 7 (Molitiki*, Taumoepeau* 2, Latu 2, Raiwalui, T-Pole)
Off-side: 1 (Taione)
Discipline: 4 (Va'a - collapsing maul; Tuilagi - high tackle, Taione - not 10; Rabeni - high tackle)

Pacific Islands missed a penalty kick at goal.

Getting possession - line-outs, scrums, free kicks, drop-outs, turn-overs

In this section the figures represent the number of times you get to play with the ball.

Ireland:

Line-outs: 8 (1 free kick)
Scrums: 15 (5 reset)
Free-kicks: 1 (scrum)
Drop-outs: 1

Pacific Islands:

Line-outs: 14 (5 lost, 1 quick, 1 free kick)
Scrums: 8 (1 free kick)
Free-kicks: 2 (line-outs)
Drop-outs: 0

Stoppages: 69

(vi) Italy vs Canada

Total number of penalties: 21

Italy: 13
Canada: 8

The reasons for the penalties were as follows:

Italy:

Tackle/ruck: 6 (Pozzebon, Bortolami, Ongaro, Scanavacca, Festuccia, Lo Cicero)
Off-side: 3 (Nieto, Ongaro*, Mauro Bergamasco)
Discipline: 4 (Dellapè - air tackle; Stanojevic - high tackle; Festuccia - not 10; Festuccia - obstruction)

Canada:

Tackle/Ruck: 6 (Carpenter, McKeen, Riordan 2, Gainer, Williams)
Off-side: 1 (Webb*)
Discipline: 1 (Tait - stamping)

Canada missed two penalty kicks at goal.

Getting possession - line-outs, scrums, free kicks, drop-outs, turn-overs

In this section the figures represent the number of times you get to play with the ball.

Italy:

Line-outs: 16 (5 lost)
Scrums: 11 (2 reset)
Free-kicks: 2 (marks)
Drop-outs: 2

Canada:

Line-outs: 26 (6 lost, 2 skew, 1 quick, 1 penalty)
Scrums: 3 (2 rest, 1 lost)
Free-kicks: 1 (line-out)
Drop-outs: 1

Stoppages: 87

Some totals

Stoppages (total of line-outs, scrums with resets, free kicks, penalties, drop-outs):

The most stoppages in a match were 96 when England played South Africa for the first time.

The fewest stoppages was 69 when Ireland played the Pacific Islands.

England vs Argentina: 88
England vs New Zealand: 76
England vs South Africa: 86
England vs South Africa: 96
France vs Argentina: 79
France vs New Zealand: 79
France vs New Zealand: 89
Ireland vs Australia: 85
Ireland vs Pacific Islands: 69
Ireland vs South Africa: 81
Italy vs Argentina: 91
Italy vs Australia: 92
Italy vs Canada: 87
Scotland vs Australia: 89
Scotland vs Pacific Islands: 83
Scotland vs Romania: 90
Wales vs Australia: 80
Wales vs Canada: 91
Wales vs New Zealand: 79
Wales vs Pacific Islands: 75

Tries scored:

The most tries in a match was 11 - when Ireland played the Pacific Islands.

The fewest tries in a match was 2 - when England played South Africa the second time.

England vs Argentina: 2 + 1 = 3
England vs New Zealand: 3 + 4 = 7
England vs South Africa: 2 + 2 = 4
France vs New Zealand: 0 + 7 = 7
France vs New Zealand: 1 + 2 = 3
Ireland vs Australia: 2 + 0 = 2
Ireland vs South Africa: 4 + 2 = 6
Italy vs Argentina: 1 + 2 = 3
Italy vs Australia: 0 + 3 = 3
Scotland vs Pacific Islands: 4 + 3 = 7
Scotland vs Romania: 7 + 0 = 7
Wales vs Australia: 2 + 4 = 6
Wales vs Canada: 9 + 2 = 11
Wales vs Pacific Islands: 5 + 3 = 8
England vs South Africa: 1 + 1 = 2
Wales vs New Zealand: 1 + 5 = 6
Scotland vs Australia: 2 + 5 = 7
Ireland vs Pacific Islands: 8 + 3 = 11
France vs Argentina: 3 + 2 = 5
Italy vs Canada: 5 + 0 = 5

Tries by Country

Argentina: 1 + 2 + 0 + 2 = 5
Australia: 4 + 3 + 0 + 5 = 12
Canada: 2 + 0 = 2
England: 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 8
France: 0 + 1 + 3 = 4
Ireland: 4 + 2 + 8 = 14
Italy: 0 + 1 + 5 = 6
New Zealand: 4 + 7 + 2 + 5 = 18
Pacific Islands: 3 + 3 + 3 = 9
Romania: 0
Scotland: 7 + 4 + 2 = 13
South Africa: 2 + 2 + 1 = 5
Wales: 2 + 5 + 9 + 1 = 17

Average number of tries per country

Argentina: 1, 2
Australia: 3
Canada: 1
England: 2
France: 0 + 1 + 3 = 4
Ireland: 4,7
Italy: 2
New Zealand: 4,5
Pacific Islands: 3
Romania: 0
Scotland: 4,3
South Africa: 1,7
Wales: 4,2

Penalties per Match

The most in a match was 25 -Scotland vs Australia

The fewest in a match was 15 - Ireland vs Pacific Islands

The most by a team in a match was 16 by Argentina.

The fewest by a team in a match was 3 by Ireland.

There were 20 matches. On five occasions the home team was penalised more than the visiting team.

The penalty count was 169-224 in favour of the home teams. In other words, the visitors were penalised 11,2 times to the home sides' 8,5 times.

England vs Argentina: 13 + 10 = 23
England vs New Zealand: 8 + 11 = 19
England vs South Africa: 5 + 11 = 16
England vs South Africa: 7 + 9 = 16
France vs Argentina: 9 + 10 = 19
France vs New Zealand: 7 + 13 = 20
France vs New Zealand: 8 + 9 = 17
Ireland vs Australia: 7 + 12 = 19
Ireland vs Pacific Islands: 3 + 12 = 15
Ireland vs South Africa: 9 + 11 = 20
Italy + Argentina: 8 + 16 = 24
Italy vs Australia: 6 + 11 = 17
Italy vs Canada: 13 + 8 = 21
Scotland vs Australia: 11 + 14 = 25
Scotland vs Pacific Islands: 6 + 13 = 19
Scotland vs Romania: 7 + 12 = 19
Wales vs Australia: 10 + 9 = 19
Wales vs Canada: 14 + 10 = 24
Wales vs New Zealand: 8 + 14 = 22
Wales vs Pacific Islands: 10 + 9 = 19

Penalties by Country

Argentina: 10 + 16 + 10 = 36
Australia: 9 + 11+ 12 + 14 = 46
Canada: 10 + 8 = 18
England: 8 + 13 + 9 + 5 = 35
France: 7 + 8 + 9 = 24
Ireland: 9 + 7 + 3 = 19
Italy: 6 + 8 + 13 = 27
New Zealand: 11 + 13 + ( + 14 = 47
Pacific Islands: 9 + 13 12 = 34
Romania: 12
Scotland: 7 + 6 + 11 = 24
South Africa: 11 + 9 + 11 = 31
Wales: 4 + 10 + 14 + 8 = 36

Average number of penalties by country

Ireland have the best record.

Argentina: 12
Australia: 11,5
Canada: 9
England: 8,8
France: 8
Ireland: 6,3
Italy: 9
New Zealand: 11,8
Pacific Islands: 8
Romania: 12
Scotland: 8
South Africa: 10,3
Wales: 9

Line-outs throws

In brackets are those lost.

Argentina: 45 (6)
Australia: 60 (9)
Canada: 49 (16)
England: 66 (7)
France: 41 (5)
Ireland: 32 (3)
Italy: 54 (8)
New Zealand: 43 (4)
Pacific Islands: 42 (12)
Romania: 10 (1)
Scotland: 57 (6)
South Africa: 50 (8)
Wales: 42 (12)

Success rate in line-outs per cent

It is interesting that Argentina were so successful in the line-outs as they had less time than most to prepare and do not have jumpers who are especially highly regarded.

Argentina: 91
Australia: 85
Canada: 67
England: 89
France: 88
Ireland: 90,6
Italy: 85
New Zealand: 90,7
Pacific Islands: 71
Romania: 90
Scotland: 89
South Africa: 84
Wales: 85

We shall add to the stats on kicks, tackle/rucks/mauls and advantage as they become available from Sound

Kicks per Match

England vs Argentina: 23 + 39 - 62
England vs South Africa: 26 + 20 = 46
England vs South Africa: 30 + 33 = 63
France vs New Zealand: 31 + 24 = 55
France vs New Zealand: 37 + 28 = 65
Ireland vs Australia: 23 + 20 - 43
Ireland vs South Africa: 21 + 18 = 39
Italy vs Argentina: 29 + 28 = 57
Italy vs Australia: 24 + 27 = 51
Scotland vs Pacific Islands: 34 + 26 = 60
Scotland vs Romania: 22 + 31 = 53
Wales vs Canada: 20 + 20 = 40
Wales vs Pacific Islands: 27 + 25 = 52
Wales vs New Zealand:
Scotland vs Australia:
Ireland vs Pacific Islands:
France vs Argentina:
Italy vs Canada:

Kicks per team

Argentina: 39 + 27 + 66
Australia: 27 + 20 = 47
England: 23 + 26 + 30 = 79
France: 37 + 31 = 68
Ireland: 21 + 23 = 44
Italy: 24 + 24 = 48
New Zealand: 28 + 24 = 52
Pacific Islands: 25 + 24 = 49
Romania: 31
Scotland: 22 + 34 = 56
South Africa: 18 + 20 + 33 = 71
Wales: 27 + 20 = 47

Tackle/ruck/maul per match

England vs Argentina: 159
England vs South Africa: 144
England vs South Africa: 159
France vs New Zealand: 153
France vs New Zealand: 167
Ireland vs Australia: 151
Ireland vs South Africa: 175
Italy vs Argentina: 143
Italy vs Australia: 128
Scotland vs Pacific Islands: 150
Scotland vs Romania: 153
Wales vs Canada: 126
Wales vs Pacific Islands: 166
Wales vs New Zealand:
Scotland vs Australia:
Ireland vs Pacific Islands:
France vs Argentina:
Italy vs Canada:

Advantage played per match (times successful).

The greatest delight for a referee is a try scored on advantage. Florian Fritz of France did that and so did Luke McAlister of New Zealand, Mark Gerrard of Australia and Paddy Wallace of Ireland.

England vs Argentina: 25 (7)
England vs South Africa: 11 (2)
England vs South Africa: 7 (2)
France vs New Zealand: 10 (4)
France vs New Zealand: 13 (4)
Ireland vs Australia: 16 (4)
Ireland vs South Africa: 24 (11)
Italy vs Argentina: 10 (2)
Italy vs Australia: 10 (2)
Scotland vs Pacific Islands: 9 (3)
Scotland vs Romania: 21 (5)
Wales vs Canada: 26 (12)
Wales vs Pacific Islands: 17 (5)
Wales vs New Zealand:
Scotland vs Australia:
Ireland vs Pacific Islands:
France vs Argentina:
Italy vs Canada: