Lions Battle Stats | Tackle Warriors

Test rugby is as much about keeping the opposition out as it is scoring points. Defence has become increasingly more important and made more complicated for opposition by the different systems and styles used. There are however some key metrics like tackle completion that share a picture of the defensive set up and making tackles in modern rugby is important especially in the pack and up to the number 12 on many occasions. Here is a look at some of the defensive numbers out of the 2025 Lions Tour.

100% Tackle Success:

There are just two players in the squad that have completed every one of their tackle attempts (minimum five attempts) and that is Bundee Aki and Dan Sheehan.

Aki has two dominant tackles and one tackle turnover with his tour numbers but has allowed five offloads too.

Sheehan has two dominant tackles too and conceded one tackle penalty but has not allowed a single offload.

Simmering Below:

There are nine players in the 90-99% completion zone and they are, in order: Jamison Gibson-Park, Scott Cummings and Jac Morgan (90%), Henry Pollock (91%), Ronan Kelleher (92%), Maro Itoje and Pierre Schoeman (95%), Joe McCarthy (96%) and finally Josh vd Flier (98%)

Big Hitters:

Dominant tackles are momentum stoppers and provide a better chance of a turnover penalty, two players have the top spot and that is Tom Curry and Jack Conan, both with three each.