Despite the Wallabies only playing once to the All Blacks twice and the Springboks thrice, the Tri-Nations is such a ridiculously lopsided competition that now seems as good a time as any to start looking at the best performers. As usual we'll use the only stat that counts - a player's average score.
TOP 5 FRONT ROWERS
Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 370
John Smit (SAF) - 367
Gurthro Steenkamp (SAF) - 262
Tony Woodcock (NZL) - 255
Stephen Moore (AUS) - 190
Few surprises here, with little to separate the Bok and All Black hookers at the top, followed by those two teams' standout, and try-scoring, props. Moore scored well in his cameo last week, so I'd expect to see him higher up the ranks next time.
TOP 5 LOCKS
Dean Mumm (AUS) - 260
Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 220
Victor Matfield (SAF) - 215
Danie Roussouw (SAF) - 212
Tom Donnelly (NZL) - 208
A barn-storming opening game, sees the Wallaby lock pair rocket to the top of the pile, whether they have the earning potential to stay there after they've played a couple more games remains to be seen.
TOP 5 LOOSIES
Kieran Read (NZL) - 388
Rocky Elsom (AUS) - 380
Jerome Kaino (NZL) - 315
Richard McCaw (NZL) - 298
Schalk Burger (SAF) - 285
The biggest surprise here is probably the absence from the top five of the much-vaunted Pierre Spies. "When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going!" seems to be the Bok hardman's theme song too often these days, and he's been practically invisible in the games thus far. The All Blacks' loose forward trio are clearly the form unit of the tournament, but if Elsom keeps playing like he did last week, he could make it to the top.
TOP 5 HALVES
Will Genia (AUS) - 500
Piri Weepu (NZL) - 268
Daniel Carter (NZL) - 258
Enrico Januarie (SAF) - 243
Morne Steyn (SAF) - 218
More misery for celebrated Springboks, as Morne Steyn languishes at the bottom of the heap. This isn't as much of a surprise as he didn't fare very well last season either. What's most interesting is the dominance of the scrum-halves... very strange indeed, with even the much derided Januarie outscoring his fly-half.
TOP 5 CENTRES
Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 398
Matt Giteau (AUS) - 385
Conrad Smith (NZL) - 300
Rene Ranger (NZL) - 235
Jacque Fourie (SAF) - 235
Nothing too surprising among the centres as Nonu and Giteau reign supreme as previous form would have dictated.
TOP 5 OUTSIDE BACKS
Mils Muliaina (NZL) - 468
James O'Connor (AUS) - 450
Israel Dagg (NZL) - 380
Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 330
Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - 270
South Africa's woes are perhaps best demonstrated by the absence of any backs among the top 5. Muliaina's back to his very best form and O'Connor is always a testrugby-points-machine. Most remarkable perhaps is Dagg's monster score from the meagre 15-20 minutes he played in the second test - that's quite the weapon to have on the bench.
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