Best Players After Round Four

Based upon each player's average score

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TOP FRONT ROWERS
Keven Mealamu (BLU) - 303 ><
Tatafu Polatu-Nau (WAR) - 296 *
Ti'i Paulo (CRU) - 275 <
Tiaan Liebenburg (STM) - 272 ><
Andrew Hore (HUR) - 270 <

Mealamu continues to reign supreme as the best performing front rower but Polatu-Nau's breathing down his neck after being absent from the top five entirely last week. These two stand out as the best earners in the position thus far, with little to separate the trailing pack of Paulo, Liebenburg and Hore.

TOP LOCKS
Andries Bekker (STM) - 216 >
Nathan Sharpe (FOR) - 173 >
Michael Paterson (HUR) - 165 <
Anthony Boric (BLU) - 160 <
Jacques Lombaard (LIO) /Tom Donnelly (HGH) - 148 >< / >

Paterson's big fat zero when he actually played a game at lock (rather than in the back row) saw him slip to third, and Bekker is the stand-out - if you can afford him. But just look at how low these scores are for the very best in this position. If money's tight then you should be spending it elsewhere.

TOP LOOSIES
Ryan Kankowski (SHK) - 335 >
George Smith (BRM) - 318 ><
Rocky Elsom (BRM) - 293 <
Liam Messam (CHF) - 270 ><
Juan Smith (CHE) - 256 ><

Kankowski's the one bright star in the Sharks at present, and his stellar performance sees him as the best scoring loose forward, but George Smith isn't too far behind him. After Elsom's barnstorming efforts of the first weeks, he's seemed more subdued of late, but I'd expect that to change. Interesting to note, is the absence of fan-fave, Pierre Spies, whose average score of 240 isn't enough to scrape into the top five.

TOP HALVES
Morne Steyn (BUL) - 648 ><
Quade Cooper (RED) - 359 ><
Daniel Carter (CRU) - 355 ><
Will Genia (RED) - 288 ><
Naas Olivier (CHE) - 255 *

Steyn's in a class of his own among the halves, and indeed all players in all positions. Carter's slowly getting back to his peerless self and I think it won't be too long before the gap closes further between these two. Cooper continues to be a great earner here too. Notable absences here include previous stalwarts like Giteau, Donald, du Preez and Brett.

TOP CENTRES
Wynand Olivier (BUL) - 358 >
Adam Ashley-Cooper (BRM) - 328 >
Michael Hobbs (HGH) - 314 <
James O'Connor (FOR) - 300 ><
Doppies la Grange (LIO) - 260 *

Olivier's consistent try-scoring performances in the first few games have given him the top spot here, and Ashley-Cooper's another solid earner, who can be counted on to score decently even when the Brumbies seem out of sorts.

TOP BACKS
Sitiveni Sivivatu (CHF) - 443 ><
Cory Jane (HUR) - 333 >
Lelia Masaga (CHF) - 305 <
David Smith (HUR) - 300*
Israel Dagg (HGH) - 270 ><

Sivivatu's the stand-out earner among the all-Kiwi top-five outside backs, and second only to Steyn as the best all-round performer. There's no place for the current most expensive back, Bryan Habana, whose price seems to be based on his popularity and reputation, rather than his current TR form.