Rugby Championship: Who will be the goal-kickers for each side and their statistics

Dylan Coetzee
Rugby Championship: Split with Libbok, Boffelli, Mo'unga

The 2023 edition of the Rugby Championship looms large and is set to be an enthralling competition, albeit shortened, loaded with fantastic rugby.

Last season’s tournament saw two players finish with the most points in sharpshooters Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand) and Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina), who both ended on an impressive total of 71 points.

With the first round drawing closer, Planet Rugby takes a look at all the goal-kickers for the 2023 championship and how they have fared off the tee recently.

All Blacks

First choice: Richie Mo’unga

The Crusaders playmaker is an accomplished goal-kicker as he has shown time and again for club and country. In last year’s Rugby Championship, he managed 27 from 32 kicks at 84% but dropped to 71% during the Autumn Nations Series. He proved he can kick well under pressure as he nailed clutch kicks in the back end of the Super Rugby Pacific season.

Damian McKenzie showed his worth as a goal-kicker and finished as Super Rugby Pacific’s top points-scorer including some stellar kicking performances in difficult conditions during the business end of the tournament.

Jordie Barrett would be next in line after a full season kicking for the Hurricanes. He also kicked at times for the All Blacks in the Rugby Championship last year but only managed three from six attempts.

His older brother Beauden is the weakest kicker of all the options and has struggled from the tee throughout his Test career, despite winning some games for the All Blacks in that regard.

South Africa

First choice: Manie Libbok

One of the biggest downfalls of an injured Handre Pollard is the goal-kicking aspect that South Africa struggled with last year. Libbok is expected to play a more important role this season and his 76% success rate during the United Rugby Championship (URC) is the best the Springboks can offer. Whilst the fly-half has had some poor performances off the tee, he is constantly working at it and he will need to be on song.

Cheslin Kolbe stood out as the best option last season as the kicking tee was being passed around the squad and managed seven from 10 in the Autumn Nations Series. He could serve as a decent back-up for Libbok.

Scrum-half Faf de Klerk showed he can hold his own when kicking for goal but is not really a front-line option in this regard. He managed six from nine in the Autumn Nations Series and will no doubt be practising from the tee.

Elton Jantjies’ role in the squad is still up in the air but the veteran’s goal-kicking has been relatively solid for the most part throughout his career. Damian Willemse can step in on occasion but struggles when kicking at goal. However, the Stormer has made several important kicks in the green and gold including the winner against Wales in the mid-year Tests last season.

Australia

First choice: Quade Cooper

The playmaker is not necessarily the most natural of goal-kickers but has kicked well for the most part of his career. He has done away with the dramatic kicking stance and since his return to Test rugby kicked decently. His recent percentages mean little as he has now recovered from an Achilles injury which may influence his accuracy. He will be the likely starter and thus the primary goal-kicker.

Versatile Reece Hodge will take on the long-range kicks when on the field with his absolute gun of a boot. He is an accomplished kicker managing five from six in last year’s competition and 50% success in the Autumn Nations Series. His stats can be taken with a pinch of salt due to the difficulty of them. He also kicked ahead of Carter Gordon at the Rebels.

Argentina

First choice: Emiliano Boffelli

The outside back who has become renowned for his world-class goal-kicking had an uncharacteristically bad season off the tee in the URC with Edinburgh, only succeeding with 65% of his attempts. It is very strange considering he managed 87% throughout the entirety of the 2022 season. We suspect the Argentine will be back to his best in his national colours.

Los Pumas have a very solid back-up in Tomas Albornoz if selected, as the fly-half managed an impressive 82% success rate for Benetton in the URC this season. The reliance will be firmly on Boffelli, however.

READ MORE: A powerful XV of injured stars ahead of the Rugby Championship

Argentina Emiliano Boffelli Richie Mo'unga

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