Stormers versus Lions by the numbers
This idiom – popularised in the United States in the 19th century by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli – holds true to this day.
However, statistics can be a wonderful toy when we try to compare teams ahead of an important game.
So we will at what the numbers tell us about the Super Rugby Round 15 encounter between the Lions.
Victory for the Lions will cement their place at the top of the South African conference. Defeat will afford the Jaguares an opportunity to claim first place in the conference – if not this week, certainly before the play-offs in July.
For the Stormers, defeat will end their remaining hopes of staying in the race – indeed a 'Last chance saloon'.
The statistic, even if you don't think they are relevant, do tell an interesting story.
The Lions are the competition's most prolific try scores, with 64 in 13 matches. The Stormers have just 39 tries in their 13 matches.
The Lions and Stormers are equal in terms of clean breaks – with 153.
The Stormers have made more carries (1,479) than the Lions (1,461) – second and third most in the competition.
The Lions reversed the roles when it comes to metres carried – the Lions on 5,661 (most in the competition) to the Stormers' 5,281 (sixth).
The Lions are again on top when it comes to defenders beaten (363), with the Stormers third (293).
The Stormers, even though they are just seventh overall, are more successful than the Lions on defence – 83.7 percent tackles completed, to the Lions' 82.3% (11th).
The Lions' line-outs are better – (90 percent, second) to the Stormers' 84.5 percent (ninth).
The Stormers have the better scrums – 92 success rate (third), with the Lions at 90 (sixth).
They are equally successful at ruck time – 96 percent (joint fourth).
Discipline could be the key factor. The Stormers have received five yellow cards and conceded 125 penalties. The Lions have just one yellow card and 116 penalties.
The Lions are coming off a win, after ending a three-match losing streak. The Stormers have lost their last two matches.
The Lions have won three matches in the last eight weeks, the Stormers just two.
Lions coach Swys de Bruin and captain Franco Mostert are not reading much into the Stormers' recent form – certainly not last week's loss to the Sunwolves.
Mostert said they still have a number of aspects of their game that requires improvement and they will work hard on those this week.
De Bruin was also not willing to write the Stormers off.
"To put things in perspective, the Sunwolves are a very good team," De Bruin said.
"They [the Sunwolves] have taken a number of teams, like ourselves, down to the wire.
"That is a very good and well-coached team.
"The Stormers will be back and it will be a typical South African derby.
"We are expecting a big, big arm-wrestle."
By Jan de Koning
@king365ed
@rugby365com
