Spotlight on the scrums
1 Jul 2011
RYAN VREDE writes that based on an analysis of referee Craig Joubert, discipline at scrum time could be crucial to the outcome of the Newlands showdown.
Joubert, who’ll referee Saturday’s Stormers-Crusaders semi-final, was heavily criticised for what was perceived to be a poor performance in the Super Rugby final in 2010. Certainly there were some questionable calls, but my observations and a statistical comparison with other elite referees in 2011 suggests he is maturing (although statistics alone are not a complete measure of a referee’s skill).
However, it would remiss not to note Joubert’s tendency to clamp down at the shove. Scrum resets have been an ongoing topic of discussion, and indeed a point of great frustration, as it undermines the quality of the spectacle. Statistically, Joubert is reluctant to reset, ranking second last of the 17 Super Rugby referees in this regard, according to ruckingoodstats.com.
This will be of concern to the Stormers, who rank fourth highest in the tournament for resets on their own feed on average, and fourth highest for resets on the opposition’s feed . The Crusaders rank 9th and 7th comparatively.
Ominously for the Stormers, Joubert is the fourth highest awarder of scrum infringements on average (significantly more penalties than free kicks), and the highest of the elite group. The hosts are third for infringements on their own feed.
However, Joubert’s habit of not being pedantic at the breakdown bodes well. He is the second-lowest awarder of ruck infringements on average and overall Joubert has averaged 18.5 penalties per match (12th in the tournament).
Naturally this raises the issue of the importance of the goal kickers, Peter Grant and Dan Carter. The Stormers pivot leads the competition, kicking at 85 percent, while Carter is 10th on the list with 73,1%. Grant has succeeded with 50 of his 59 kicks at goal, while Carter has slotted 57 of his 78. The Stormers’ attacking impotence means that the bulk of Grant’s points off the boot have come from penalties – 37 of the 59.
It is interesting to note that the Crusaders’ ill discipline has cost them on two of their three previous semi-finals in South Africa. The Bulls’ prolific goal kicker Derick Hougaard punished them to the tune of eight penalties in the 2007 play-off, while in 2010 Morné Steyn kicked six in a 39-24 victory at Orlando Stadium.
There are undoubtedly lessons to be learnt in those statistics for the Stormers.
By Ryan Vrede
147 Comments
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1 Jul 2011, 15:03 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-92:
Tell me something, poppa69, since you like to talk about unjust wars.
Has New Zealand ever apologised for its involvement in the Vietnam conflict?
You see, the South African government of the day was very much goaded into the war on the border due to American pressure to control the spread of communism.
I believe the NZ government’s excuse for involvement in Vietnam was very similar?
1 Jul 2011, 15:05 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-97: sorry, being raised in a civil country where policeman for example never carried guns, one isnt up on the jargon associated with them..
I take it with your vast experience and neccessity in having to use guns that you’d know the terminology much more elaborately than I ever would…
please accept my humble apology in not being proficient with a tool that is only ever used for killing…
1 Jul 2011, 15:07 pm
Oh, and isn’t New Zealand (by virtue of ANZUS) currently involved in the so-called War on Terror?
1 Jul 2011, 15:08 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-101: where have I talked about unjust wars? please show me the post?
All I did was remind vetkoek that the reason you guys werent able to compete in 87 was because of your countries policy at the time… so to belittle a WC victory because your country wasnt there of its own doing is foolish… but continue to defend him…
its a rather wondeful leap youve made though…
1 Jul 2011, 15:08 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-102:
Indeed. Rather be thankful that you live in a society where firearms are a rare occurrence, eh? One must be grateful for what you receive.
Perhaps have some sympathy for South Africans that to this day have to endure very high levels of violent crime?
1 Jul 2011, 15:10 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-104:
Referring to strafing innocents, I imagine you were trying to reference our involvement in the border conflict against communist insurgents that was still going on at the time.
1 Jul 2011, 15:10 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-105:
And might I add, South Africans of all races, languages and creeds?
1 Jul 2011, 15:13 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-102:
Oh the perfect Australian world
1 Jul 2011, 15:15 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-102:
“A tool that is only ever used for killing.”
I know a lot of sports shooters who would disagree with that statement.
1 Jul 2011, 15:15 pm
Strafing was very popular in Vietnam
1 Jul 2011, 15:16 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-108: Australian cops carry guns Dawn…
1 Jul 2011, 15:17 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-110: like rape is in SA you mean?
1 Jul 2011, 15:17 pm
Pooper, stop your blaady fibs you farken big fat snotty expat Maori…
Go try read a book…
…or get back in your canoe…
…or go grab a sheep
…or something
tosser.
1 Jul 2011, 15:18 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-112:
Is that you returning serve now?
You do yourself a discredit.
Stay out of the dirty ditchwater.
1 Jul 2011, 15:19 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-104:
And by the way, who the hell am I defending?
1 Jul 2011, 15:20 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-108:
start him off here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_of_Indigenous_Australians
1 Jul 2011, 15:25 pm
@sonnie-vatdie pill virwurms(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-116:
Poppa69 is a New Zealander, not an Australian.
1 Jul 2011, 15:31 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-117:
yes, but he’s living in australia and, also, i was replying to dawn’s statement.
1 Jul 2011, 15:31 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-117: Same thing
1 Jul 2011, 15:36 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-119:
hehehe ja, they’re really just an extra province anyway
1 Jul 2011, 15:37 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-115: why Vetkoek of course… firstly by pointing out my lack of knowledge in regards firearms and such and then starting about wars, when my original post was more in the line of Vetkoek was probably still entrenched in the 87 mentality, the whole gist of my AK47 comment..
perhaps you see it differently… oh well…
1 Jul 2011, 15:40 pm
@sonnie-vatdie pill virwurms(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-120: True.
1 Jul 2011, 15:48 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-112:
That just sucks.
Really low.
1 Jul 2011, 15:54 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-117:
That’s the problem.
He’s a kiwi who dumped his homeland for Australia, but carries on like NZ is the be all and end all when he isn’t even there.
1 Jul 2011, 16:09 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-124: its called making sound judgements on an economic basis dawn… I still return to NZ every year… so colour it any way you like…
1 Jul 2011, 16:10 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-124:
and to top it off nz is’nt all milk and honey when it comes to racism:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/most-kiwis-say-racism-still-exists-in-nz-4204570
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/3192425.stm
http://newzeelend.wordpress.com/racism/
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/blogs/david-farrar-by-the-numbers/5108052/Perceptions-of-racism-are-they-growing
http://newzeelend.wordpress.com/killed-in-nz/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rage-Against-Racism-in-New-Zealand/126587457359184
http://asians-against-racism.socialgo.com/forum/topic/1
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/archive/index.php/t-12390.html
just for a start…
1 Jul 2011, 16:10 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-123: and your vietnam comment wasnt? why you tried to piggy back on WPTID’s correction on my earlier post by trying to be funny, dont dish it if you cant handle it being given back…
1 Jul 2011, 16:14 pm
@sonnie-vatdie pill virwurms(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-126: what I find most funny is a SA of all people lecturing others about racism…
classic stuff… what has made you such a doyen for righting Racism in the wold all of a sudden?
have you finally find a moral compass, or did you steal if of HG?
ag shame man… you are going to have to do more than post a few links on a blogsite to wipe the blood from your hands… eish..
1 Jul 2011, 16:16 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-128:
Get lost man.
You are worse than that ET person.
Blaming a few bloggers on a two-bit website for apartheid
Are you stupid or what
1 Jul 2011, 16:17 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-128:
talk is cheap…or would you rather that old classic ‘when in glass houses’?…
1 Jul 2011, 16:18 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-128:
and dont draaaaaag this out as your want to do guy. sorry but i have to go.
1 Jul 2011, 16:18 pm
Every single country has problems.
And no nation has a squeaky clean conscience.
1 Jul 2011, 16:19 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-128:
In any event, I picked the Reds for the win tomorrow on Superbru, but will be hoping for a Blues victory.
Good luck to your boys tomorrow.
1 Jul 2011, 16:21 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-129: hahahaha gees dawn, you all jumped on my back when I was highlighting why you guys werent at the 87 WC, and disputed vetkoeks call about it being not a proper WC… so tell me, was that the reason you guys werent there in 87?
thats how this all started remember?
so yeah, Im blaming bloggers for apartheid…. eish..
perhaps if youd read my post in the context it was written you wouldnt be all defensive now huh? as for blaming a couple of bloggers about racism< glad to see youve also jumped down Sonnie-vatdie pill virwurms throat with his racism links huh?
opps, double standard again perhaps?
1 Jul 2011, 16:23 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-133:thanks… Ive tipped the blues myself, think they will be up for it and wont want to give the reds the type of lead they did in the round robin stage…
1 Jul 2011, 16:23 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-133: all the best for your team too… are you going to the game?
1 Jul 2011, 16:27 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-136:
Sadly not – was going to but am working another 12-hour police shift tonight and will be out of commission most of tomorrow.
Will instead be watching rugby in Hout Bay with some Canadian mates (it was Canada Day today so will be celebrating that with them tomorrow).
1 Jul 2011, 16:28 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-132:
you would think the nz’s do have a clean conscience and a land without problems. can be an ugly place for non-whites going there, i’ve heard personal testimonies from people who’ve been.
1 Jul 2011, 16:31 pm
@WP Till I Die(WP-Forever)-137: not good… I have to work a 12 hour shift as well, so will be trying to find a decent link for both games, dont like my chances much… might have to take an extended dinner break and find a pub in the city to watch the Blues game at… without being able to have a beer either…
enjoy the celebrations tomorrow and lets hoep for two great games…
cheers
1 Jul 2011, 16:56 pm
@ricane(ricane)-86:
Kaplan’s an exception
Despite being the best for a long time, he has plenty who always bashed him or have a go at his credentials, the Australians and the Poms leading the way (and now many SA officials!) although NZ, Wales and Ire are all his backers
Case in Point:
He was let down by his assistant at the Wales-Ireland Test although he followed the procedure to the letter, Andre Watson was quick to criticize him – which was made public – but Kaplan was fully exonerated from any bad decision by the IRB – which was kept un published and no due appology
Go figure
The rest are match benders and on the taking scoundrels, although Dickinson ccome closest to decency compared to the rest
1 Jul 2011, 17:00 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-134:
Blah
1 Jul 2011, 17:26 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-139:
Don’t worry dude – South Australia are bound to win a legitimate world cup eventually.
Maybe 2039 will be your year.
1 Jul 2011, 17:27 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-134:
why bring up apartheid at all?
Is it because you have no justifiable rugby argument?
So you resort to gutter tactics.
Sheesh – you south australians are sensitive.
2 Jul 2011, 01:16 am
Vb>Joubert’s habit of not being pedantic at the breakdown bodes well??? Really with Mccaw playing as the best breakdown specialist ever walked and manipulates the ref this is going to be where the Saders will win it.
Has Joubert ever penalised Mccaw, has the Stormers learnt how to neutralise Mccaw?? Not the Schalla nuetralising by trying to blind him but the systematicall playing him out of the game. Holding him back and down in the rucks, tripping him and not playing his channel.
The Stormers need to be smart or the Freemasons, sorry Crusaders are going to knock em out.
2 Jul 2011, 07:19 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-140:
No Kaplan is NOT an exception.
All refs are assessed after each game.
Kaplans assessments are probably the most positive though IMO as he is a very good at a very difficult job.
I stopped criticizing refs the day I first reffed a game (admittedly I do occassionally have lapses) it is way harder than it looks when you are up close in 100% real time.
2 Jul 2011, 07:22 am
@Vetkoek(Vetkoek)-142:
I doubt it, since South Australia are not a country but a state and tehy don’t even have a serious rugby team; Aussie Rules is the be all and end all in Adelaide.
3 Jul 2011, 03:41 am
The piebald gelding, Jonathan Kaplan is nowhere near the best.
He doesn’t seem to understand that for a player to be on his feet, he needs to be on his feet. Not kneeling as he constantly let the Reds players do yesterday. Not lying on top of the ruck. For two reasons, one, rucks are not mauls and two, lying on top of a mess of bodies is not standing on one’s own feet.
His perception of where he is at any one moment is blurred. He doesn’t have a very good grasp of direction; hence his inability to deal with offsides or forward passes.
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