JOHN MITCHELL, writing on the Vodacom Rugby Portal, takes a stats-based look at the performances of South Africa's franchises in round two of Vodacom Super Rugby.

As you would expect from two teams who had to play in wet conditions, the Sharks and the Lions' statistics from their clash in Durban are very different from those in round one.

The Sharks kicked 34 times from hand against the Lions, with Pat Lambie controlling the game superbly. The incumbent Springbok flyhalf put boot to ball 13 times to ensure the Sharks played the game inside the Lions' 50, and it was his pinpoint cross-kick that resulted in the first try for Odwa Ndungane. I’m of the view that Lambie's performance in the wet would have strengthened his claim for the Bok No 10 jersey ahead of Handré Pollard considering the World Cup will be held in England.

Click here to read the rest of Mitchell's column

Photo: Sabelo Mngoma/BackpagePix