Premiership stats leaders: ‘Devastating’ English international, Borthwick’s ‘forgotten man’ and back-rower pushing for Test call-up
Following the conclusion of Round Three of the Premiership season, we take a closer look at the individual stat leaders and top performers from the games so far.
Saracens’ win over Exeter propelled them to the top of the table, with the Londoners the only side to maintain a perfect record this season. Elsewhere, Bristol Bears and Leicester Tigers climbed into the top four with big wins over Bath and Newcastle respectively, and Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks also recorded important bonus-point wins over Harlequins and Gloucester.
With three rounds now gone in the regular season, here is a full rundown of the stats leaders from the opening games.
Attacking stats: Points, tries, metres, carries, defenders beaten
At the top of the points-scoring charts are Gloucester and Northampton Saints men George Barton and Fin Smith, who both sit on 32 points from the opening three games of the season.
Despite falling to a 31-27 defeat to Sale Sharks, Barton notched a solid haul of seven points from the tee, but this was slightly bettered by England international Smith, who slotted nine points from the tee in his side’s 33-29 win over Harlequins.
Their respective hauls have also pulled them away from fellow backs Josh Hodge and Marcus Smith, who are joint second on 27 thus far.
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In the try-scoring department, Bristol Bears star Max Malins is leading the charge, with five to his name after three games. The fullback already set a precedent with four tries in his opening two games, but he carried on where he left off in the 36-26 victory over Bath as he crossed the whitewash in the opening minute of the game! This effort has also steered him clear of Christian Wade and Luke Cowan-Dickie, who are both on three for the campaign.
There are no surprises in the metre-maker charts, as devastating England flyer Immanuel Feyi-Waboso tops the leaderboard after three rounds. The ever-destructive winger might be playing in an Exeter side yet to taste victory this season; but that’s not stopped him carving it up on the park as he’s notched 261 metres in his three games to date – an average of 87 per game.
Keeping it in the West Country now, as Steve Borthwick’s forgotten man, Zach Mercer, sits atop the carrying stats this season with a whopping 54 in his three showings in Cherry and White.
This in itself is very impressive, but the former Montpellier man also sits second in the league for gainline carries with 24 to his name, meaning he breaks the gainline with 44% of his carries! He also sits clear of Saracens counterpart Tom Willis, who is on 53.
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Whilst Mercer might beat Willis for number of carries, the Saracens eight currently leads the way for defenders beaten, with 20 to date. This puts him well clear of second-placed Izaia Perese, on 13.
Defensive stats: Tackles and turnovers won
Turning the attention to the other side of the ball now, and there is a clear theme building here.
Newcastle Falcons might be sitting bottom of the table, but new recruit Tom Gordon currently tops the tackle stats with a whopping 55 to his name in his three showings this season. He pips Sale Sharks counterpart, Sam Dugdale, who sits second on 46. This could soon change, however, with the Sale man recording a ridiculous 32 tackles in their win over Gloucester at the weekend.
Last but not least, Harlequins back-rower Will Evans is once again the king of the jackal, as he leads the way for turnovers with seven so far this season. He managed another might effort in this department against Northampton, recording three in the defeat. Evans also narrowly edges out Quins teammate Jack Kenningham, who is on six so far.
Premiership top performers
Points: 32 – George Barton (Gloucester) and Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Tries: 5 – Max Malins (Bristol Bears)
Carries: 54 – Zach Mercer (Gloucester)
Metres: 261 – Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
Defenders beaten: 20 – Tom Willis (Saracens)
Tackles: 55 – Tom Gordon (Newcastle Falcons)
Turnovers won: 7 – Will Evans (Harlequins)
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