Rugby: Attacking game of Hurricanes coming to fore as business end of Super Rugby competition looms

James Broadhurst of the Hurricanes off-loads the ball to TJ Perenara during the round 17 Super Rugby match between the Hurricanes and the Highlanders in Napier. Photo / Getty Images

With one round of the regular season to go, the Super Rugby playoff contenders have emerged.

The Hurricanes will top the standings and play at home during the finals but the rest of the ladder will be determined this weekend.

The Hurricanes structured their campaign around tight defence to begin the season but their attacking game came to the fore as the year wore on. They lead Super Rugby in carries (125.2), metres (556.7), clean breaks (11.6) and defenders beaten (24.2) per contest. Their scrum operates at 96 per cent, the most efficient in the comp, and they lose the fewest scrums per match (0.3).

They are also one of four teams to make 88 per cent of their tackles, the highest figure in the competition.

The Waratahs have built their season around a strong running game. They make the fewest kicks from the hand per game (15.4) and have beaten the second-most defenders (22.4).

The Stormers have dined out on a disciplined approach in 2015. They give away the least penalties per match (8.9) and also have the most accurate goal-kicking at 80 per cent. They average the most scrum steals per game with 0.7.

Dave Rennie's Chiefs, who have been ravaged by injuries this year, make the most offloads in Super Rugby (17.3) per week but their discipline has been a problem. They give away 12.6 penalties per game, the most in the competition, and have the highest rate of yellow cards with 0.8 per week. They also concede the most turnovers with 17.9.

The Highlanders have been competitive at the breakdown and in the contact areas and win 8.7 turnovers per game, the second-most behind the Crusaders (9.2).

The Brumbies are another side who have thrived at set piece during the 2015 season with their lineout shaping as a particular area of strength for the ACT side.

Their lineout operates at 92 per cent, the most efficient figure in Super Rugby, and they lose a competition-low 1.1 lineouts per game.

By the numbers

88

The Blues have been poor this year but defensively they rank first-equal (with three other teams) as most efficient tacklers. They make 88 per cent of their defensive assignments.

83
At the other end of the spectrum, the Sharks only make 83 per cent of their tackles, the lowest figure in Super Rugby.

90.1
Compared with their previous results, the Melbourne Rebels have had a good season with seven wins from 15 matches; they also win the most rucks per game with 90.1.

13
The Cheetahs have struggled this season and they spend the least amount of time - 13 minutes - a game with the ball in their hands. The Force lead with 17m 5s.

5.1
The Bulls have rarely been associated with rampant running rugby; they only make 5.1 clean breaks per game, the lowest number in the competition.