The Blues Super 14 rugby franchise has come to the defence of its first five-eighth Stephen Brett's tackling performance, ahead of the first All Blacks squad of the season being named on Sunday.
Last week NZPA obtained statistics for the Super 14 season, one of which showed Brett had missed the most tackles (34).
But Blues spokeswoman Jo Coleman told NZPA that statistics provided to the Blues by sports analysis company Verusco showed Brett missed 26 tackles and that statistic should be given in context.
"Stephen attempted the second-highest number of tackles for any Blues player (115) which delivers a successful tackle percentage of 77 percent," she said.
"This also should be considered alongside the fact that Stephen spent more time on the field than any other Blues player -- the only player in the team to play more than 1000 minutes."
Brett, who last year was a Junior All Black and called into the All Blacks camp as injury cover, is one of several players bidding to become Dan Carter's understudy for the No 10 role when the New Zealand squad to play against Ireland on June 12 are named on Sunday.
