With the Cheetahs and the Lions’ enjoying byes this weekend, South Africans came out on top in just two of the various Vodacom Rugby Stats App categories – tackling and turnovers.
Francois Steyn has been in commanding form this season and is clearly enjoying his rugby again. The imposing figure is not only a dangerous weapon via a prodigious boot, but seemingly equally good at forcing turnovers.
Steyn won three turnovers the past weekend, on par with team-mate Jean Deysel, Stormers centre Juan de Jongh, Liaki Moli of the Blues and the Chiefs’ Tanerau Latimer
Siya Kolisi seemingly put his body on the line for the Stormers in a losing cause over the weekend, making 18 tackles in their match against the Reds to share the weekend’s lead with the Brumbies’ Jarrad Butler.
Hot on their heels is Kolisi’s team-mate Nizaam Carr, who made 17 tackles, with Michael Hooper (Waratahs) and the Rebels’ Mitch Inman were equal on 16.
Bulls stalwart Victor Matfield, enjoying shoving egg in the face of thoise that questioned his comeback, is showing the youthful form that belies his age and has proven that he is still the master of the lineouts. He is second in the lineouts won on own throw category – one short of the Hurricanes’ Jeremy Thrush, who took 8 on the weekend.
The Sharks’ Stephan Lewies, in to replace Pieter-Steph du Toit, has adapted well to the pressures of SupeRugby, taking 6 lineouts along with Jake Shcatz of the Reds and the Blues’ Steven Luatua.
And showcasing their depth even further, in his first start for the Sharks, flyhalf Fred Zeilinga turned in a flawless kicking performance contributing 19 points to his side’s victory over the Tahs, the second most of the weekend, and equal to that of Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who has played a massive part in the Bulls better than expected start to the tournament.
Round-7 Stats:
Points:
1. Jason Woodward (Rebels) – 27
2. Fred Zeilinga (Sharks) – 19
3. Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bulls) – 19
4. Quade Cooper (Reds) – 17
5. Simon Hickey (Blues) – 15
Penalty goals:
1. Jason Woodward (Rebels) – 6
2. Fred Zeilinga (Sharks) – 5
3. Jacques-Louis Potgieter (Bulls) – 5
4. Lima Sopoaga (Highlanders) – 4
5. Quade Cooper (Reds) – 4
Carries:
1. Ben Smith (Highlanders) – 19
2. Jean Deysel (Sharks) – 14
3. Lachlan Turner (Reds) – 14
4. Will Genia(Reds) – 14
5. Asaeli Tikoirotuma (Chiefs) – 13
Tackles:
1. Siya Kolisi (Stormers) – 18
2. Jarrad Butler (Brumbies) – 18
3. Nizaam Carr (Stormers) – 17
4. Michael Hooper (Waratahs) – 16
5. Mitch Inman (Rebels) – 16
Turnovers won:
1. Francois Steyn (Sharks) – 3
2. Jean Deysel (Sharks) – 3
3. Juan de Jongh (Stormers) – 3
4. Liaki Moli (Blues) – 3
5. Tanerau Latimer (Chiefs) – 3
Lineouts:
1. Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes) – 8
2. Victor Matfield (Bulls) – 7
3. Jake Schatz (Rds) – 6
4. Stephan Lewies (Sharks) – 6
5. Steven Luatua (Blues) – 6
Tournament stats after Round 7:
Points:
1. Marnitz Boshoff 107
2. Beauden Barrett 83
3. Quade Cooper 77
4. Lima Sopoaga 74
5. Simon Hickey 71
Penalty goals:
1. Marnitz Boshoff 23
2. Lima Sopoaga 20
3. Simon Hickey 15
4. Jacques-Louis Potgieter 14
5. Quade Cooper 14
6. Tom Taylor 14
Drop goals:
1. Marnitz Boshoff 6
2. Jacques-Louis Potgieter 3
3. Angus Roberts 1
4. Johan Goosen 1
5. Louis Fouche 1
6. Quade Cooper 1
Metres run:
1. Willie le Roux 492m
2. Jesse Mogg 453m
3. Julian Savea 428m
4. Ben Smith 405m
5. Israel Folau 405m
Carries:
1. Ben Smith 71
2. Willie le Roux 68
3. Jesse Mogg 67
4. Charles Piutau 65
5. Luke Braid 65
Tackles:
1. Phillip van der Walt 89
2. Matt Hodgson 83
3. Lappies Labuschagne 76
4. Shane Christie 75
5. Warren Whiteley 72
Turnovers won:
1. Adriaan Strauss 11
2. Marcell Coetzee 9
3. Matt Hodgson 9
4. Deon Fourie 8
5. Jack Lam 8
Loose ball collected:
1. Jurgen Visser 23
2. Will Genia 21
3. Jesse Mogg 20
4. SP Marais 18
5. Francois Hougaard 17
Kicks caught:
1. Jurgen Visser 38
2. Willie le Roux 37
3. Jesse Mogg 32
4. SP Marais 27
5. Ben Smith 22
For more details on the App, and details of how to download it, head to www.statzone.co.za
