Battle rages for Bok openside position
While South African franchises are involved in a tussle for Vodacom SupeRugby supremacy another battle is raging.
South Africa has always had an embarrassment of riches among the loose forwards but the scramble for a 2015 Rugby World Cup place is at its fiercest.
Statistics taken from the Vodacom Rugby App focussing only on the three openside flankers in action over the weekend shows Springbok selectors will have quite a headache selecting the squad.
The three contenders in action this weekend were Springbok and Stormers stalwart Schalk Burger, the Lions’ Jaco Kriel and Sharks dynamo Marcell Coetzee.
Key to an openside flanker’s repertoire is the ability to win turnovers at the breakdown while slowing down the opposition’s ball.
Kriel topped the Turnovers Won category over the weekend stealing four of the Highlanders’ ball.
Burger won three Turnovers against the Brumbies while Coetzee had one to his name.
Burger in turn ranked fourth in the Loose ball collected category with four.
Coetzee collected two with Kriel having none to his name.
Coetzee showed once again why he was was one of the leading try-scorers in the competition with five tries.
He was a cut above the rest in the Defenders Beaten bracket with five, while Burger and Kriel had one each.
The Sharks player ran 28 metres compared to the 22m of Kriel and the 14m Burger thatran.
Burger made 17 Carries with Coetzee one less and 11 to Kriel.
Kriel played a pivotal role on defence in his side’s gutsy defeat over the Highlanders.
He made 16 Tackles in the match with Coetzee making 14 and Burger executing 10.
Key Statistics from the Round 13:
Marcell Coetzee vs Schalk Burger vs Jaco Kriel
Metres Run:
28-14-22
Carries:
16-17-11
Defenders Beaten:
5-1-1
Offloads:
0-1-2
Tackles:
14-10-16
Missed Tackles:
0-1-1
Knock Ons:
0-1-1
Turnovers Won:
1-3-4
Loose ball collected:
2-4-0
Penalties Conceded:
2-0-0
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