The Year in Numbers: Including Wayne Barnes’ record, France’s winning run and Rassie Erasmus’ suspensions

David Skippers
The Year in Numbers for 2022

With help from stattos beavering away in various dark, cobweb-ridden, subterranean data storage rooms around the globe, Planet Rugby takes a look at the best – and worst – of 2022 expressed in numerical form.

6 – The number of consecutive Tests in which Springbok flyer Kurt-Lee Arendse scored tries in 2022. The 26-year-old made his Test debut against Wales in Bloemfontein in July but failed to cross the whitewash in that game. He then scored tries against New Zealand, Argentina, Ireland, France, Italy (2) and England, which means he has joined illustrious company as he is one of only three players to score tries in six consecutive Tests for South Africa along with Danie Gerber and Chester Williams.

101 – That is the number of Tests which English referee Wayne Barnes has refereed, which is a world record. Barnes equalled the record – set by former Welsh referee Nigel Owens – when he took charge of the Wales v New Zealand match at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on November 5 and set a new mark when he was the man in the middle when France hosted South Africa in Marseille on November 12.

71 – England fly-half Marcus Smith’s number of points racked up during the Six Nations which made him the leading points-scorer in this year’s championship, averaging 14.20 per match.

24 – Is the number of rounds which Leicester Tigers spent at the top of the Premiership standings during the 2021/22 season. That meant they became the first club ever to go through an entire campaign in England’s top flight at the top of the table after every round. The Tigers went on to claim their first Premiership title since 2013 when they beat Saracens in the final at Twickenham in June.

4 – The number of losses registered by New Zealand in 2022, their worst campaign since 2009. The All Blacks suffered back-to-back defeats in their series loss on home soil against Ireland in July before South Africa beat them in their Rugby Championship opener in Mbombela. They bounced back with a win over the Springboks in Johannesburg but were stunned by Argentina in Christchurch – the Pumas’ first-ever win on New Zealand soil. The men in black continued to show improvement as they went on to win five out of their next six Tests in 2022, with the only blip being a draw with England during the Autumn Nations Series.

30 – Is the world’s longest international rugby winning streak which was set by the England’s women’s team between November 2019 and November 2022. By beating Wales 73-7 at Ashton Gate in September, they broke the previous record of 24 consecutive Test wins which was held by Cyprus’ men’s team between 2008 and 2014. England’s winning run was ended when they suffered a 34-31 defeat to New Zealand in the final of the delayed 2021 Women’s World Cup at Eden Park in Auckland.

5 – Is how many tries New Zealand hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored during this year’s Rugby Championship, which resulted in him finishing as that tournament’s leading try-scorer.

48 – That is the number of days in between South Africa’s director of rugby Rassie Erasmus’ two suspensions which he served in 2022. Erasmus was initially suspended from all rugby activity for two months at the end of 2021, after he released a video in which he ranted at the match officials after the Springboks’ first Test against the British & Irish Lions. That ban ended on September 30 but he received another suspension on November 17 when he criticised referees’ officiating after the Boks’ losses to Ireland and France.

42,579 – That is how many spectators watched the Women’s Rugby World Cup final between home side and eventual winners New Zealand and England at Eden Park. That number broke the world record for a women’s rugby match and for a standalone women’s sporting event in New Zealand.

36 – That’s how many matches Italy lost in a row in the Six Nations before sealing a dramatic 22-21 victory over Wales in Cardiff in March. The Azzurri’s losing streak started during the 2015 tournament with their last victory registered when they beat Scotland 22-19 at Murrayfield in a Round Three encounter that year.

35 – That’s how old Stormers back-row Deon Fourie was when he made his international debut for South Africa as replacement in their 12-11 defeat against Wales in Bloemfontein in July. That makes him the oldest ever debutant for the Springboks and Fourie’s exact age was 35 years and 287 days, eclipsing Deon Lotter’s mark of 35 years and 265 days which was set against France in 1993.

31 – Is the points difference in the encounter between the Barbarians and England at Twickenham earlier this year as the famous touring team sealed a shock 52-21 victory. That number represents the Baa-baas’ biggest-ever winning margin over the Red Rose and surpassed the 20-point difference set in 2004.

10 – Represents the number of consecutive victories which France racked up during 2022 after winning all five of their Six Nations matches, two mid-year international against Japan and three Tests against, Australia, South Africa and the Brave Blossoms again during the Autumn Nations Series. That meant Les Bleus won all their matches during this year and they are currently on a 13-match winning streak stretching back to 2021.

73 – That represents former England head coach Eddie Jones’ winning percentage while he was at the helm of the Red Rose from 2016 to this year. Jones was relieved of his duties as England finished their worst campaign since 2008, delivering a losing Test record for the first time since that year, with their 12 matches finishing with six defeats, one draw and five victories.

25 – Is how many years the Stormers had to wait before they won their first competitive trophy as a club. The Cape Town-based outfit was established in 1997 and after a 23-year stint in Super Rugby, they were one of four South African clubs who participated in the inaugural United Rugby Championship (URC) in the 2021/2022 season. They beat arch rivals the Bulls 18-13 in the URC final to end their barren spell and lift their first title.

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