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This one is less fun that most because the teams are not linked at all, mostly due to New Zealand's "you have to play in NZ" policy.
The most interesting thing is probably the different distribution of the players.
( New Zealand players all play for the same 5 teams, South Africa are split, playing for 17 club teams )
This is reflected in the club teams with the most players still in. Crusaders have the most with 10, followed by Blues with 8 and Chiefs and Sharks, the only South African team in the top 3 most represented, with 7.
So what can I talk about instead?
How about an interesting stat?
Much was made about the number of South Africa games that Ben O'Keefe refereed in this tournament (he can't referee the final as he is from New Zealand).
Interestingly, Wayne Barnes, who is refereeing the final, has refereed New Zealand twice this tournament and South Africa not at all. Given we know every referee interprets the rules slightly differently (not a diss, just a fact), and you have to play to the referee's interpretation, it will be interesting to see how long it takes South Africa to acclimatise to the referee.
The most interesting thing is probably the different distribution of the players.
( New Zealand players all play for the same 5 teams, South Africa are split, playing for 17 club teams )
This is reflected in the club teams with the most players still in. Crusaders have the most with 10, followed by Blues with 8 and Chiefs and Sharks, the only South African team in the top 3 most represented, with 7.
So what can I talk about instead?
How about an interesting stat?
Much was made about the number of South Africa games that Ben O'Keefe refereed in this tournament (he can't referee the final as he is from New Zealand).
Interestingly, Wayne Barnes, who is refereeing the final, has refereed New Zealand twice this tournament and South Africa not at all. Given we know every referee interprets the rules slightly differently (not a diss, just a fact), and you have to play to the referee's interpretation, it will be interesting to see how long it takes South Africa to acclimatise to the referee.
