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Opta take a look at the performances of September's award winners Paul Hodgson and Brendan Venter.

Opta take a look at the performances of September's award winners

The monthly player and director of rugby awards for the Guinness Premiership were announced on Wednesday with both going to London-based individuals. September's player of the month has been named as London Irish's Paul Hodgson, and the director of the month as table-topping coach Brendan Venter. Opta take a look at their performances over the first four match days to see how well they actually performed. Saracens are the one remaining team in the league with a 100 per cent record, which is undoubtedly why Venter won the director of the month accolade. However further analysis of their performances may worry those down at Vicarage Road. Their style of play brought boos from their own fans last weekend, despite victory over Gloucester. They have scored just five tries, half of the other sides in the league have scored more than this, and their unwillingness to carry the ball in hand has won them few supporters. They average just 49 carries per game, the fewest in the league, and also just 83 passes per game, the second fewest.

Saracens September 2009
Tackles	89.0
Missed Tackles	11.5
Missed tackles %	11.44%
Carry	49.2
Metres	259.5
Defender Beaten	8.2
Passes	83.0
Clean Breaks	5.2
Pens Conceded	12.2
Turnovers	9.2
Breakdowns Won	38.8
Lineouts Won	84%
Scrums Won	79%

Sarries' scrum has also been the least effective in the league (79 per cent win rate) although their line out has performed better, winning 84 per cent of their own throws and making it the fourth best in the top flight. The key to the status at the head of the pack (despite the odd lump of luck) has been their defence and ball retention. They have turned the ball over just nine times per game - the only team to average below 10 - and they have also missed on average just 11.5 tackles per game, only three sides have a better tackle success rate. So despite a healthy start to the season, which sees the Watford-based club top of the league for the first time since round one 2002/03, Venter should not rest on his laurels. Saracens have won four on the bounce but have not won five in a row since 1999/00, and with a trip to Newcastle next weekend, where they have won just once in 15 visits (in 2003) they will be up against it to stay at the summit. As far as player of the month goes, Paul Hodgson is the victor for September. He has appeared in all four games, and played vital roles in each, especially their latest win over Wasps. His control of the game, has allowed his forwards momentum going forward and his backs the space to exploit the opposition defence on many occasions. He has not made many carries or been a livewire behind the scrum, but he has done the basics with aplomb.

Paul Hodgson September 2009
Appearances	4
Carries	9
Metres	45
Defender Beaten	5
Turnover Won	3
Turnover Con	5
Pens Con	1
Tackles	20
Missed Tackles	2
Passes	178