Patterns of play in the oppositions 22m that define success in elite rugby union.

The present study aimed to explore the factors of play around entries into the oppositions 22m area (“Green Zone”) in Elite Rugby Union matches, as predictors for possession and match outcome. A total sample of 54 matches from the 2017/18 season, consisting of all 12 team’s first 9 matches of the top tier of English Rugby Union. Match location and match outcome were balanced 50/50. Green Zone Entries were defined as when an attacking player entered the oppositions Green Zone in possession of the ball and were analysed for Number of Entries (GZE), Conversion Rate (GZC), Outcome Ratio (GZO), Average Phases (AP) and Styles of Play (SOP). GZE, GZC and GZO were compared between winning and losing teams whilst AP and SOP were analysed for association in relation to outcome of possession. Independent Samples t-tests and Mann Whiteney U tests were used as test of difference, depending on distribution, whilst Chi Squared tests of association were used to analyse SOP, both to an alpha level of 0.05. Winning teams had significantly more GZE (8.81±2.44 vs 6.62±2.34, p0.05). There was no difference in the Average phases of possessions that ended in tries and those that did not (3 [4] vs 3 [4], p