Five SA players crack Stats XV team

Apr 21 • General News, Super Rugby • 2106 Views • Comments Off on Five SA players crack Stats XV team

Five players from South African teams made it into the Vodacom Rugby App Stats XV team after the weekend’s Vodacom SupeRugby.

Vodacom has created a formula that rates each player according to the stats on the Vodacom Rugby App that are important for his position.

Player points will be earned according to position. So while a prop will certainly get points for running 50 metres to score a try, he will get even more points for doing what he is on the field to do – win scrums.

Although the debate still rages about Vodacom Bulls stalwart Francois Hougaard’s best position, he has been invaluable to their campaign on the wing this season.

Hougaard was the only South African backline player to crack the Stats XV team.

Other than scoring his side’s only try in their victory over the Cell C Sharks, the explosive player made two Clean Breaks, while he also won two turnovers.

Hougaard also beat three defenders to rank fifth in that category on the Vodacom Rugby App statistics.

The Stats XV second row is an all-South African combination with Toyota Cheetahs’ Francois Uys and DHL Stormers lock Eben Etzebeth topping the stats in their positions.

Uys is ranked second for the eight balls he won in the lineouts on his own ball, while Etzebeth took five as well as stealing one on the opposition’s throw.

The loose trio also has a distinct South African flavour as Cheetahs blindside flanker Boom Prinsloo and Bulls open side flank Deon Stegmann were the leading men in their respective positions.

Stegmann affirmed his reputation as one of the top breakdown specialists in the competition by leading the Turnovers won category for the weekend.

The undervalued flanker was influential in his side’s away win by winning four turnovers, making four carries and putting in 13 tackles.

Prinsloo was a rock on defence for his side over the weekend, making a whopping 25 tackles to the rankings as well as scoring one of his side’s tries.

The Highlanders have the most representatives in the Stats XV team with centre Malakai Fekitoa, and the complete front-row of Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman and Kane Hames on top in their respective positions.

The Hurricanes contribute the second most players in the team as Ma’a Nonu, Beauden Barrett and T.J Perenara making up most of the backline.

Vodacom Stats XV:

15. Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14. Francois Hougaard (Bulls), 13. Malakai Fekitoa (Highlanders), 12. Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11. James O’Connor (Reds), 10. Beauden Barrett (Hurricanes), 9. T.J. Perenara (Hurricanes), 8. Ben McCalman (Force), 7. Boom Prinsloo (Cheetahs), 6. Deon Stegmann (Bulls), 5. Francois Uys (Cheetahs), 4. Eben Etzebeth (Stormers), 3. Josh Hohneck (Highlanders), 2. Liam Coltman (Highlanders), 1. Kane Hames (Highlanders).