Tri-Nations 2009: Report Card

As you mull over who to choose for the 2010 tournament opener it's perhaps worth looking at who the top performers were last year. As ever, we'll look at the only stat that really counts - a player's average score across the whole competition.

TOP 5 FRONT ROWERS

Bismarck du Plessis (SAF) - 325
Andrew Hore (NZL) - 256
Tendai Mtawarira (SAF) - 173
John Smit (SAF) - 168
Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 167

TOP 5 LOCKS

Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 232
Isaac Ross (NZL) - 203
Victor Matfield (SAF) - 188
James Horwill (AUS) - 153
Mark Chisholm (AUS) - 142

TOP 5 LOOSIES

Pierre Spies (SAF) - 334
Rocky Elsom (AUS) - 316
Richie McCaw (NZL) - 311
George Smith (AUS) - 216
Juan Smith (SAF) - 193

TOP 5 HALVES

Daniel Carter (NZL) - 427
Matt Giteau (AUS) - 315
Morne Steyn (SAF) - 301
Fourie du Preez (SAF) - 295
Stephen Donald (NZL) - 171

TOP 5 CENTRES

Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 284
Jean De Villiers (SAF) - 228
Berrick Barnes (AUS) - 226
Conrad Smith (NZL) - 180
Jaque Fourie (SAF) - 178

TOP 5 BACKS

Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZL) - 302
Lachlan Turner (AUS) - 238
Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 234
Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) - 217
Joe Rokocoko (NZL) - 214

Despite some of these players being notable absentees this year, there are a few interesting trends worth noting.

As usual, the locks are the least productive position - with only one lock (Sharpe) scraping into the overall top 20. The highest earning players are predominantly loosies, halves and front rowers, so that's where you should spend the money.

Although the Springboks were the dominant force last year, Morne Steyn was the lowest scoring of the three fly-halves (and only a whisker better than his scrum half du Preez), so he might not be the points machine that certain bloggers are predicting.

This year's priciest back (over $100,000 more than the next most expensive), Bryan Habana didn't even make the top five last year and I'd be amazed to see him buck the trend. His price seems to be based on past glories and misplaced fan loyalty - he was around the 20th best performing back in this year's S14. You'd be much better buying Cory Jane or James O'Connor, who are a fraction of the cost and will almost certainly outscore Habana.