The stats don't lie: Mid-season players' report card

Sonny Bill Williams leads the Super 15 in off-loads. Photo / Getty Images

We've reached the halfway point of the competition, so here's a look at the names leading the numbers for the New Zealand teams.

TOP GOALKICKING

- Aaron Cruden has the best percentage success with 80 per cent but has only had 10 attempts at goal. Likewise, Stephen Donald is on 75 per cent but he has only had 16 kicks for goal due to being injured.

- The best of the kickers are Dan Carter (79 per cent from his 39 attempts) and Luke McAlister (71 per cent from 35 attempts).

- Dan Kirkpatrick (63 per cent from 32 attempts), Matt Berquist (62 per cent from 19 attempts) Mike Delany (62 per cent from 26 attempts) and Stephen Brett (56 per cent from 16 attempts) are not converting enough attempts into points to be considered international-class goal kickers

-Robbie Robinson is the worst of the recognised kickers sitting on just 46 per cent from 26 attempts.

LINEBREAKS

- Plenty of these from the NZ teams with the Blues backs having made the most with 38, followed by the Hurricanes with 35, the Highlanders with 31, the Crusaders with 30, and the Chiefs 22.

- Top linebreakers are Isaia Toeava (10), Kade Poki (8), Sean Maitland (7) and Andre Taylor (7).

- Of the leading midfield contenders for this year's All Black side, top linebreaker is Robbie Fruean with 5, followed by Conrad Smith on 4, then Ma'a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams with 3 each. The bolter may be Jared Payne who has 6 so far this season.

- Of the wingers, after Maitland comes Joe Rokocoko, Lelia Masaga and Ben Smith who all have 6. Then Hosea Gear, Zac Guildford and Sitiveni Sivivatu with 4 each.

TACKLE OFFLOADS

- The impact of Sonny Bill Williams on this facet of the game is ovious with his tally of 29 offloads in the tackle almost double that of the next player.

- Others making good use of this skill are Adam Thomson with 14, Dan Carter 12, Rene Ranger 11, Israel Dagg and Sitiveni Sivivatu 10, and Brendon Leonard 9.

TOP FLANKERS

- For breakdown turnovers you can't go past Matt Todd who has won 10, just shading Adam Thomson who has won 8. Thomson actually led this stat for the first 5 round before Todd overtook him.

- Next best is George Whitelock with 4, Scott Waldrom with 3, Jerome Kaino and Kieran Read with 2, and Daniel Braid with 1. Much interest will surround McCaw's return to playing and whether he can match the stats of Todd and Thomson at the breakdown.

LINEOUTS

- Best NZ lineout is the Highlanders who have won 89 per cent of their ball, followed by the Blues and Crusaders on 77 per cent, the Hurricanes on 76 per cent and the Chiefs on 74 per cent.

- Sam Whitelock and Tom Donnelly are the only two locks to have won 100 per cent of the ball thrown to them.

- Next best cabs off the rank are Brad Thorn, Isaac Ross, Josh Bekhuis and Anthony Boric all of whom have won over 80 per cent of ghe ball on their jumps.

- Isaac Ross is the best stealer of opposition ball, with 6 to his name. Anthony Boric has stolen 3, while Jeremy Thrush and Chris Jack have 1 each.

- The best lineout thrower is Keven Mealamu who has just one not-straight call against him.

- The worst lineout throwers are Cory Flynn and Hika Elliot. Flynn has 6 not-straights against him, while Elliot has 5 plus an over-throw.


* Further NZ player stats can be found at Haka.co.nz