Explosive statistics reveal Super Rugby Pacific off to a flying start in 2025

The opening two rounds of the Super Rugby season have been the most exciting in history, according to an explosive report. JAMIE PANDARAM with the exclusive details.

IT’S officially the most exciting start to a Super Rugby season in history, with not only the points flowing but several close finishes creating such havoc that one team has two wins to start a season for the first time, while the defending champions are at the bottom of the table.

Statistics obtained by this masthead reveal that in the first two rounds, there are more points on average per game than in any other season over the same period since Super Rugby was launched in 1996.

But also, the margin of victory across the games is the sixth lowest of all time, with seven of the 10 games played so far finishing with a difference of eight points or fewer.

The Waratahs’ last-minute win over the Highlanders, the Western Force’s epic 83rd minute win over Moana Pasifika, followed by their thrilling win over the Brumbies last weekend, and the Hurricanes’ comeback win over Fijian Drua have highlighted the narrow margin between teams while 97 tries have been scored.

The opening two rounds of Super Rugby have been the most exciting. Picture: by Joe Allison/Getty Images

The Force, second on the table behind the Chiefs, have started a season with two wins for the first time in their history while the Blues, who stormed to the premiership last year, are anchored at the bottom with zero points following two shock defeats.

Law variations that encourage teams to attack and not waste time, as well as clear instructions by referees to speed up the game and protect the halfbacks, are the keys to the sizzling start according to Super Rugby Pacific chief executive Jack Mesley.

“First and foremost, I think the intent by the teams is just excellent, so the coaches and the playing staff are out there to play rugby, no doubt about it, so they should be congratulated,” Mesley said.

“And the match officials then have done a great job at. We didn’t do a lot of law changes this year, we took an approach where we’re more refining those law changes that we put in play over the last couple of years.

“And really the match officials have been looking just to hone in on moving the game along.

“You add in things like the protection of the No.9 which is seeing lightning fast ball from the base of the base of ruck, and then with the referees really trying to move the game forward in terms of getting nines to play it, not stopping for minor injuries, they’re waving off trainers and water, and that’s really helping move the game forward.

“It’s bringing in fatigue to the end of match, which is assisting with the exciting rugby that we’re seeing.

“What’s really pleasing about the start of the season is we’ve had average total points per game be really high, but then the average margin per game is really low. And so that combination is really exciting.

“And then if you think about the things like run meters and just how attacking the game has been, that combination of really exciting running open rugby, a great contest at the breakdown combined, leading to lots of tries, but games being close, we couldn’t be happier with how that’s going.”

Officials have honed in on moving the game along. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

In the opening two rounds, the average points per game average 70.1, overtaking the start of the 2023 season (65.6). The average margin between teams is 8.5, sixth lowest all time, although the top two are the Covid-affected 2020 Super Rugby AU and Unlocked seasons.

There have been also more average run metres this season (955.6) than in any other opening two rounds to a season.

“After the season last year, we talked about what sort of a competition we want to be, what an important role everyone plays in that, this isn’t just a marketing challenge,” Mesley said.

“It’s a challenge that we all need to lean into, and that’s everything from the teams being more accessible to ensuring that we’re all working together to make sure that we’re delivering a great product.”

It’s understood the action has translated to a bigger television audience, with ratings on Stan Sport said to be up at least 10 per cent compared to the same stage last season.

Originally published as Explosive statistics reveal Super Rugby Pacific off to a flying start in 2025