I tracked winning performances in the 2012 Super 15 Rugby Union tournament.
One of the indicators I looked at was a team’s ability to overcome a points deficit (or to lose a lead).
This year the 73 wins from behind were (team winning from behind in bold):
Gap |
Teams |
21 |
Cheetahs v Hurricanes (Round 6) Highlanders v Cheetahs (Round 10) |
17 |
Sharks v Reds (Round 4) |
14 |
Cheetahs v Waratahs (Round 14) |
13 |
Brumbies v Cheetahs (Round 3) |
11 |
Waratahs v Sharks (Round 5) Hurricanes v Highlanders (Round 12) |
10 |
Highlanders v Chiefs (Round 1) Lions v Cheetahs (Round 1) Hurricanes v Blues (Round 5) Bulls v Crusaders (Round 7) Bulls v Lions (Round 8) |
9 |
Crusaders v Blues (Round 1) Highlanders v Rebels (Round 6) Rebels v Crusaders (Round 12) Brumbies v Hurricanes (Round 13) |
8 |
Chiefs v Bulls (Round 14) Force v Lions (Round 14) |
7 |
Highlanders v Crusaders (Round 2) Force v Waratahs (Round 4) Chiefs v Waratahs (Round 6) Crusaders v Waratahs (Round 10) Bulls v Rebels (Round 11) Hurricanes v Chiefs (Round 18) |
6 |
Reds v Waratahs (Round 1) Highlanders v Waratahs (Round 3) Reds v Rebels (Round 3) Bulls v Waratahs (Round 12) Brumbies v Waratahs (Round 17) Sharks v Cheetahs (Round 18) |
5 |
Sharks v Brumbies (Round 6) Rebels v Blues (Round 7) Sharks v Blues (Round 8) Chiefs v Cheetahs (Round 8) Highlanders v Blues (Round 9) Stormers v Bulls (Round 15) Lions v Rebels (Round 17) |
4 |
Bulls v Brumbies (Round 9) Hurricanes v Blues (Round 10) Cheetahs v Force (Round 11) Sharks v Cheetahs (Round 13) Chiefs v Blues (Round 15) |
3 |
Brumbies v Western Force (Round 1) Waratahs v Rebels (Round 2) Bulls v Cheetahs (Round 2) Stormers v Sharks (Round 2) Sharks v Lions (Round 3) Chiefs v Brumbies (Round 4) Cheetahs v Rebels (Round 4) Crusaders v Lions (Round 6) Chiefs v Force (Round 7) Brumbies v Lions (Round 10) Stormers v Force (Round 10) Sharks v Force (Round 12) Highlanders v Bulls (Round 13) Reds v Lions (Round 13) Stormers v Waratahs (Round 13) Hurricanes v Blues (Round 14) Sharks v Stormers (Round 14) Crusaders v Highlanders (Round 15) Hurricanes v Waratahs (Round 15) Lions v Sharks (Round 15) Reds v Rebels (Round 15) Crusaders v Chiefs (Round 17) Reds v Highlanders (Round 17) Blues v Force (Round 17) Bulls v Lions (Round 18) |
2 |
Hurricanes v Lions (Round 2) Rebels v Force (Round 5) Rebels v Force (Round 13) |
1 |
Highlanders v Hurricanes (Round 4) Waratahs v Force (Round 8) Sharks v Highlanders (Round 11) |
It is interesting to note that the Stormers only gave up one lead in the entire season, ironically it was against the Sharks in Round 14. The Cheetahs were involved in the two highest comebacks. Once as the winners against the Hurricanes in Round 6 and as losers to the Highlanders in Round 10.