Super Rugby top performers: Round 9

Editor

Scrolling through the statistics from Opta, we pick out the standout players from Round 9 of Super Rugby 2017.

Top tacklers: Nizaam Carr (Stormers), Jeremy Ward (Sharks) and Dillon Hunt (Highlanders)

Flanks Carr and Hunt and centre Ward share the spoils, having all made 17 tackles apiece against the Crusaders, Sunwolves and Rebels respectively. Carr has certainly put his hand up for a regular starting berth in Robbie Fleck’s side. He never backs down from battle despite often facing much larger opponents. Ward was a late call-up against the Rebels and made his mark.

Top carrier: Andries Coetzee (Lions) and Will Tupou (Sunwolves)

Centres Coetzee and Tupou top the charts with 19 carries each while Hurricanes fly-half Beauden Barrett made 17. Coetzee and Barrett, however, do it on a more consistent basis. Barrett has the sixth most carries in this season’s competition, with 87 while Coetzee is joint-seventh with 86.

Most metres made and most clean breaks: Matt Faddes (Highlanders)

Centre Faddes made the most metres in Round 9, an impressive 174. Billed as the fastest player in the Highlanders squad, Faddes has been used at full-back and on the wing but the balance of his speed in midfield combined with Malakai Fekitoa’s power, seems to be an ideal fit. Faddes made a remarkable seven clean breaks in Round 9 against the Sunwolves, comfortably the largest figure in the competition.

Most defenders beaten: David Havili (Crusaders)

Full-back Havili beat the most defenders, 12 in total. Lions full-back Andries Coetzee was second, with nine in total and Hurricanes winger Vince Aso was third with eight defenders beaten. Havili really tormented a Stormers defence that found themselves exposed out wide in the first half especially in Christchurch.

Top points scorer: George Bridge (Crusaders) Vince Aso (Hurricanes) and Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders)

Wingers Bridge and Aso and fly-half Mo’unga share the spoils with 15 points apiece. Bridge had his hat-trick after just 32 minutes against the Stormers. Aso scored once in the first-half and twice in the second-half. Mo’unga showed everyone how accurate he is by kicking six conversions and one penalty. Many of those conversions came from wide out on the touchline and he certainly put his name in the minds of the All Blacks selectors.

Top try-scorer: Vince Aso (Hurricanes) and George Bridge (Crusaders)

Wingers Aso and Bridge share the spoils after both scoring hat-tricks against the Brumbies and Stormers respectively.
Aso usurps teammate Ngani Laumape (9) at the top of the try-scorer rankings for the season with 10. Matt Faddes notched up a brace for the Highlanders but was to be denied the coveted hat-trick.

Top lineout performer: Stephan Lewies (Sharks)

Lock Lewies and Kings lock Wilhelm van der Sluys are equal in terms of lineout wins (eight apiece). However, Lewies
pips his compatriot to top spot having made three lineout steals more than van der Sluys to go with eight takes of his own. Ruan Ackermann is next with five in third place, while Pieter Steph Du Toit follows closely in fourth with four lineout wins, making this a truly South African contest and perhaps proving a point that the South Africans are still the biggest exponents of the rolling maul.

Most turnovers: Will Miller (Rebels)

Rebels flanker Miller takes it with four turnovers won while Kings centre Berton Klaasen, Jaguares fly-half Nicholas Sanchez and Bulls winger Travis Ismaiel made three apiece. It is quite astonishing that the runners-up are all backline players, showing how versatile the modern player is becoming. What’s more remarkable is that Miller was making his Super Rugby debut.