By the numbers: The stats behind All Blacks v Sharks
The All Blacks head into their second match of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry against the Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday night, with the numbers pointing to an intriguing contest between two teams that have shown plenty of attacking intent in 2026.
The All Blacks are averaging 39.8 points and six tries per game, while the Sharks are averaging 28.8 points and 4.3 tries.
But the most interesting numbers go beyond the scoreboard, with both teams creating the same number of opportunities in the opposition 22, while the All Blacks have been more efficient at turning those opportunities into points.
Same opportunities, different outcomes
The Sharks and All Blacks are both averaging 10 entries into the opposition 22 per game.
Where they differ is what happens next. The All Blacks are averaging 4.0 points per opposition-22 entry, compared with 2.8 for the Sharks.
That efficiency has helped New Zealand average 39.8 points per game, with six tries, compared with 28.8 points and 4.3 tries for the Sharks.
Creating chances
The All Blacks are also creating significantly more line breaks, averaging 10 per game compared with 6.2 for the Sharks.
New Zealand are making 1,020.8 carry metres per game, more than 250 metres ahead of the Sharks' 765.
They are also averaging 168.5 carries per match, compared with 113.6 for the Sharks.
That attacking volume is reflected in the number of defenders beaten, with the All Blacks averaging 32 per game, compared with 23.1 for the Sharks.
The All Blacks' ball movement
The numbers also highlight how much the All Blacks are prepared to move the ball.
They average 237.8 passes per game, compared with 139.2 for the Sharks.
New Zealand are also kicking from hand less frequently, averaging 24.3 kicks per game compared with 37.2 for the Sharks.
The Sharks do have an edge in one key area, however, with a 62% gainline success rate compared with 60% for the All Blacks.
Players to watch by the numbers
Several members of the All Blacks' match-day 23 have already made their mark statistically in 2026.
Damian McKenzie has made the most carry metres of any player in the All Blacks' 23, with 323 metres from 35 carries across 240 minutes. He has also scored 31 points.
Jordie Barrett has made 160 metres from 30 carries, while Caleb Clarke has made 174 metres from 23 carries.
In the forwards, Wallace Sititi has made 111 metres from 25 carries, while Luke Jacobson has made 138 metres from 23 carries.
And Asafo Aumua has scored two tries from just 87 minutes of action across the 2026 matches included in the pack.
For the Sharks, Nick Hatton has carried 78 times for 401 metres, while Phepsi Buthelezi has made 419 metres from 74 carries.
Manu Tshituka has made 368 metres from 59 carries and scored two tries, while Jurenzo Julius has four tries from 36 carries.
10 facts to talk to your friends about ahead of the game
- Both teams average exactly 10 opposition-22 entries per game.
The Sharks and All Blacks are getting into the attacking zone at exactly the same rate. - The All Blacks score four points every time they enter the opposition 22.
The Sharks average 2.8 points per entry. - The All Blacks are averaging six tries per game.
The Sharks are averaging 4.3. - The All Blacks average 10 line breaks per game.
The Sharks average 6.2. - The All Blacks make more than a kilometre of carry metres every game.
Their average of 1,020.8 metres is more than 250 metres ahead of the Sharks' 765. - The All Blacks average almost 100 more passes per game.
New Zealand average 237.8 passes compared with 139.2 for the Sharks. - *The Sharks have the better gainline success rate.
*They win the gainline on 62% of their carries, compared with 60% for the All Blacks. - *The All Blacks have won 98% of their rucks.
*The Sharks are close behind at 96%. - Damian McKenzie has made 323 carry metres in 2026.
That's the most of any player in the All Blacks' match-day 23, from 35 carries. - Manu Tshituka has made 368 carry metres and scored two tries.
The Sharks loose forward has been one of their leading ball carriers in 2026, with 59 carries for 368 metres.
This article has been written with the help of an AI tool.
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