Statistically Speaking.... 10 Rounds of Aviva Premiership Action

As we all know the Aviva Premiership action is fast paced and frenetic at times so hats off to the Opta Statistics team that keep track of our player’s every movements. After 10 rounds of action I thought that it would be a good time to review some of the cumulative statistics and see exactly who has been making the waves numerically after 60 games of Premiership rugby. 

We’ll start with the big hitters for it is an area that is always gets rugby pulses racing… sitting pretty at the top of the tree is none other than Leicester’s Julian Salvi, a man that has been described by Will Greenwood as the Tigers’ ‘hidden gem’ due to his endless work rate and ability to make turnover after turnover in a game. In this key statistic Salvi highlights his physicality having made 129 tackles to date, 19 in the most recent round of action. Behind him are three Newcastle Falcons, all of which have impressive counts; Ali Hogg (120), Calum Green (114) and Mark Wilson (99). Interestingly the only back in the Top 25 tacklers of the first 10 rounds of action is Bath's Jonathan Joseph with 82 tackles, no other back line player makes the list.

Top Tacklers - Julian Salvi (Leicester Tigers) 129, Alilster Hogg (Newcastle Falcons) 120, Calum Green (Newcastle Falcons) 114, Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) 99, Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers) 98 and Jamie George (Saracens) 98

Next we turn to carries and topping the charts are two men that I have talked a lot about during the course of the season so far; Exeter’s Thomas Waldrom (120) and Wasps’ Nathan Hughes (116). As you may have read in the Round 10 statistics Waldrom has scored 10 tries to date this season and that is one less than he scored in the three years between 2010 to 2013, astounding! Nathan Hughes is flourishing at Wasps and in my eyes could be one of the great back rowers such is his natural talent and work ethic. Hughes is getting better and better each time he players and that is shown in all of his statistics, not just his carries. A notable mention must also go to Seb Jewell who is working tirelessly at London Welsh and showcasing his own Premiership credibility in spite of their challenging season to date. 

Carries - Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs) 120, Nathan Hughes (Wasps) 116, Samu Manoa (Northampton Saints) 101, Billy Vunipola (Saracens) 94, Sione Kalamafoni (Gloucester 93), Seb Jewell (London Welsh) 91. 

(C) Claire Jones

Time for the quick men to take centre stage as we move to the meters made category... interestingly Sinoti Sinoti heads the list by a considerable way with 739 meters to his name. Sinoti has been developing in stature over the course of ten rounds and has really worked hard on his all around game. I talk about it a lot but really did you actually believe for one second that Thomas Waldrom would be second on the meters made list and have made more meters than two full backs that have played for England!? I certainly didn’t but I’m loving watching him do so! Ben Foden’s class shone through on Saturday at Franklin’s Gardens and personally I find him to be a really exciting player to watch and one that I would have in my own fifteen any day of the week. 

Meters Made - Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons) 739, Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs) 673, Ben Foden (Northampton Saints) 663, Alex Goode (Saracens) 613, Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby) 595, Rob Cook (Gloucester Rugby) 512. 

A few of the same individuals crop up in our defenders beaten list; Sinoti Sinoti, Semesa Rokoduguni and the familiar face that is Nathan Hughes. The two men that some may be less familiar with are Simon Hammersley and Andrew Fenby. Hammersley has been enjoying life in the North East, he is quite a slight player however on the pitch he has great feet and doesn’t take a backward step, something you have to salute him for. London Irish secured the services of Andrew Fenby from the Scarlets and since his arrival he has enjoyed himself, 22 defenders beaten to date isn’t bad within an Irish side that hasn’t found their form so far in the competition. 

Defenders Beaten - Sinoti Sinoti (Newcastle Falcons) 40, Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby) 38, Juan Socino (Newcastle Falcons) 31, Nathan Hughes (Wasps) 24, Simon Hammersley (Newcastle Falcons) 22, Andrew Fenby (London Irish) 22

(C) Claire Jones

The final statistic to cast our eyes over is breaks and you will not be surprised to know that Welsh International and all around rugby god George North is top of the tree with 14 however he must share the top spot with Bath’s Jonathan Joseph. Joseph has had a rip roaring season and in most of our eyes was unlucky not to have the opportunity to showcase this on the International stage however if his form continues who knows what could happen!? Christian Wade hasn’t been firing on all cylinders all year however at the Ricoh on Sunday he looked back to his best. 

Breaks - George North (Northampton Saints) 14, Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby) 14, Christian Wade (Wasps) 14, Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), 13, Tom Arscott (Sale Sharks) 12, Chris Ashton (Saracens) 11

So there you are a few of the key Opta Statistics from what has been a whirlwind season to date… 

Northampton Saints Photos © Claire Jones RedHatPhoto.com all proceeds supporting Restart, the rugby players' charity.