Ireland's Tadhg Furlong celebrates his try with team mate Jack Conan in the Chicago match against the All Blacks. Photograph: INPHO/ Gary Carr
Apparently, the source of the Nile, the world’s longest river, has yet to be determined to the satisfaction of the scientific fraternity – there are several claimed origins – in much the same way that it can be problematic to identify the exact starting point of a try.
The exception to rugby’s dilemma is those who compile statistics and project figures with unerring certainty.
But are they to be trusted? Take for example New Zealand’s 26-13 victory over Ireland in Soldier Field.
In the post-match discourse, the fact that according to the statistics at hand, Ireland didn’t manage a single line-break did a great deal of heavy lifting when it came to tut-tutting about shortcomings in the Irish attack
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