After the fourth round of this year's Tri-Nations, the Springboks have played three (all away), the All Blacks have played three (2 home, 1 away) and the Wallabies have played twice (both home). Bearing that in mind, let's look at the standings for the best performers, based on the player's average score (with the relative positions for last round in parentheses).
TOP 5 FRONT ROWERS
Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 413 (no change)
John Smit (SAF) - 367 (no change)
Gurthro Steenkamp (SAF) - 262 (no change)
Tony Woodcock (NZL) - 208 (no change)
Saia Faingaa (AUS) - 145 (new entry)
There's little change among the front row, though a big score this week from Mealamu allows him to lengthen his lead over Smit. Conversely, a rather ordinary score from Woodcock sees his average tumble, though it is still enough to remain in fourth place. The Wallabies constant chopping and changing at hooker has prevented either Faingaa or Moore from making a meaningful impact - Faingaa retakes fifth place from his teammate but is still a long way behind the leaders.
TOP 5 LOCKS
Dean Mumm (AUS) - 250 (no change)
Tom Donnelly (NZL) - 218 (down)
Victor Matfield (SAF) - 215 (no change)
Danie Roussouw (SAF) - 212 (no change)
Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 205 (down)
Dean Mumm remains the best scoring lock. A good score from Donnelly and a poor one from Sharpe sees the two men switch positions, though there really is comparatively little to separate this top five.
TOP 5 LOOSIES
Richard McCaw (NZL) - 422 (up)
Kieran Read (NZL) - 352 (no change)
David Pocock (AUS) - 348 (new entry)
Rocky Elsom (AUS) - 335 (down)
Jerome Kaino (NZL) - 300 (down)
McCaw's monstrous score at the weekend sees him rocket to the top of the pile. David Pocock's a strong new entry in third, at the expense of Schalk Burger who drops out of the top five altogether.
TOP 5 HALVES
Daniel Carter (NZL) - 360 (up)
Will Genia (AUS) - 335 (down)
Enrico Januarie (SAF) - 243 (up)
Piri Weepu (NZL) - 242 (down)
Morne Steyn (SAF) - 218 (no change)
Daniel Carter ensures that some sanity returns to the top 5 halves as a fly-half takes the lead for the first time in the tournament. It's worth remembering that two of Weepu's three games have seen him come off the bench, so that should be taken into account with his score - which is still sees him comfortably ahead of the most expensive under-performer of the competition - Morne Steyn - who is currently ranked a lowly 30th among players in all positions.
TOP 5 CENTRES
Matt Giteau (AUS) - 373 (up)
Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 343 (down)
Conrad Smith (NZL) - 255 (no change)
Rene Ranger (NZL) - 235 (no change)
Jacque Fourie (SAF) - 235 (no change)
Giteau's place kicking duties have given him the edge over Nonu at the top of the centres, and there's a lot of daylight between these two and the chasing pack.
TOP 5 OUTSIDE BACKS
Mils Muliaina (NZL) - 488 (no change)
James O'Connor (AUS) - 320 (no change)
Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 315 (down)
Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - 283 (down)
Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS) - 265 (new entry)
Muliaina has well and truly cemeted his place as the best scoring back, as well as the best scoring player in any position. Israel Dagg's 380 in his brief cameo should place him in second but since he was an unused player on the bench last week, testrugby now determines his average score as only 190, which seems hardly fair. As such, Ashley-Cooper did enough to claim fifth spot.
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