With the help of the IRB Game Analysis department, we assess how the four teams in Pool B in Tokyo - that's South Africa, Argentina, Kenya and the hosts Japan - are approaching the game so far this season..
South Africa - @bokrugby
Rd 1 - Australia: 4th
Rd 2 - Dubai: 2nd
Rd 3 - South Africa: 1st
Rd 4 - USA: 1st
Rd 5 - NZ: 2nd
Series rank: 2nd (down from 1st)
IRB Game Analysis Department says: The Blitzbokke have the third-highest tries scored per game (3.8) and second-lowest tries conceded (1.4). In terms of how they are playing the game, they are the least frequent passers in the series, passing every 8.1 seconds of possession, and 75% of all their tries have been scored with three or less passes in the possession sequence. They are the most competitive team in the tackle/ruck/maul situation with a 85% retention rate and winning 1.8 turnovers per game at the tackle/ruck/maul.
Argentina - @unionargentina
Rd 1 - Australia: Bowl SF
Rd 2 - Dubai: Plate winners 5th
Rd 3 - South Africa: 4th
Rd 4 - USA: Cup QF
Rd 5 - NZ: Cup QF
Series rank: 7th (same)
IRB Game Analysis Department says: Argentina's defence is mean with the third lowest try concession rate per game (2.3). They have to do a lot of tackling too as the team with the second lowest average possession time per game (3'11), and are the team least likely to pass in the Series with one pass per 7.8 seconds and an average of only 24.5 passes per game. They have conceded the third-least number of turnovers in general play (2.3 per game) but are the fourth most likely to lose possession at the tackle/ruck/maul are (1.2 per game), suggesting high skill and low error levels in general play but vulnerability at the tackle/ruck/maul.
Kenya - @kenya7s
Rd 1 - Australia: Plate runners-up 6th
Rd 2 - Dubai: Cup QF
Rd 3 - South Africa: Cup QF
Rd 4 - USA: Bowl runners-up 10th
Rd 5 - NZ: Bowl winners 9th
Series rank: 8th (same)
IRB Game Analysis Department says: This season in contrast to last, Kenya are the third most-likely team to take the ball into contact with a tackle/ruck/maul every 22.3 seconds of possession, and 44% of their tries have been scored with at least one tackle/ruck/maul in the build-up. They are the fourth best at winning a turnover of possession (3.6 in general play and 1.3 at the tackle/ruck/maul per game) but are second most likely to concede a turnover of possession (3.8 in general play and 1.4 at the tackle/ruck/maul per game). Interestingly, they are also the most disciplined at the tackle/ruck/maul, conceding an average of 2.0 penalties there per game. They are only 11th-best in terms of tries scored this season (15.5 points per game on average) but are the seventh-best in defence, conceding
17.2 points per game.
Japan - @JRFURugby
Rd 1 - Australia: N/A
Rd 2 - Dubai: N/A
Rd 3 - South Africa: N/A
Rd 4 - USA: N/A
Rd 5 - NZ: N/A
Series rank: no ranking points
IRB Game Analysis Department says: First outing for Japan on this World Series. However, expect a fast-paced game based on dynamic handling and keeping the ball alive against more physical opposition. When they do hit rucks they're dynamic.
