Super Rugby Pacific stats: Shaun Stevenson has company on try-scoring charts
Following 12 rounds of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific, Planet Rugby takes a closer look at the players who are key to the exciting rugby on show and who leads the rest in the respective individual statistics categories.
Top try-scorers
Prolific Chiefs full-back Shaun Stevenson has company at the top of the try-scorers charts with Leicester Fainga’anuku joining the star on 10 tries this season.
Fainga’anuku has been in sublime form of late and has scored the most tries (20) of any player since the inception of Super Rugby Pacific last season.
Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? No! It's Leicester Fainga'anuku 🤩 #SuperRugbyPacific #SkySportNZ pic.twitter.com/qicapEf7Kf
— Sky Sport NZ (@skysportnz) May 13, 2023
There are three rounds of the regular season left, with both players only five tries off the record of 15 in a single season.
Runners-up: Western Force star Zach Kibirige is in third place with eight tries, whilst the in-form duo of Corey Toole and Ardie Savea join a host of players on seven tries.
Top points-scorers
Despite the Chiefs losing their first game of the season in round 12, playmaking superstar Damian McKenzie is still leading the way in the points category.
The star has 129 points for the season in his 11 games played at a healthy 11.7 points per game.
Runners-up: All Black Jordie Barrett shot into second spot with 110 after a huge points haul in the Hurricanes’ dismantling of Moana Pasifika last weekend. Richie Mo’unga is the only other star to have passed the century mark.
Top tackler
Wallabies flank Fraser McReight maintains his lead in the tackle category after another big performance for the Reds.
The star was everywhere for the Queenslanders as they became the first side this season to beat the Chiefs, and they did so away from home. McReight’s tackle count for the season is 152.
Runners-up: The hard graft continues for Crusader Tom Christie, who is not far behind McReight with 141 tackles, whilst Rebel Brad Wilkin is in the mix with 136.
Top carrier
Another week gone and another week with Reds number eight Harry Wilson at the top of the carry charts in Super Rugby Pacific.
The Wallaby simply loves taking the ball into contact, and even despite a more quiet performance by his standards he leads the way with an impressive 157 carries this season.
Runners-up: Electric Rebels wing Monty Ioane has been class this season, and his carry count is evidence of that as he is on 112, only one ahead of Brumbies duo Tom Wright and Rob Valetini.
Most defenders beaten
It was a quiet week in this category, with the leader Levi Aumua making no progress on his tally of 56 defenders beaten this season.
The robust centre did not play for Moana Pasifika but still holds his lead in this category.
Runners-up: Blues hot-stepping runner Mark Telea is in second position with 52 carries, whilst Aumua’s Moana Pasifika team-mate Tomoci Tavatavanawai is only one behind in third.
Metres carried
Brumbies full-back Tom Wright continues to show his ability to gain metres with ball in hand, adding further to his total.
The Wallaby, after 12 rounds, has carried the ball a ridiculous 1,230 metres in an outrageous effort.
Runners-up: Telea and Ioane are the only other two players to have surpassed the one kilometre mark with ball in hand.
Line-outs won
Waratah Jed Holloway is quickly establishing himself as the king of the line-out in this season’s Super Rugby Pacific.
The Wallaby took his total of line-outs won to 68 after winning five and stealing two last weekend against the Rebels.
Runners-up: Force star Jeremy Williams lies second with 53 takes and Nick Frost is third with 46.
READ MORE: Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Week: Hurricanes aplenty after big win in round 12
