Stormers prop up Stats XV team
Only three players from South African franchises made it into the Stats XV team for the 13th round of the 2015 Vodacom SupeRugby season.
South Africa boasted with six players for two consecutive weeks in the team compiled using statistics on the Vodacom Rugby App.
The fact that both the Toyota Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls enjoyed a bye over the past weekend reduced the chances of more players from our shores making it into the team.
The DHL Stormers make the largest contribution from a South African point of view with props Frans Malherbe and Steven Kitshoff making it into the team.
The duo have formed an integral part of a demolishing Stormers scrum this season and it is no wonder they featured so high up on the rankings.
Players earn points according to their positions and the statistics taken from the Vodacom Rugby App. 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.
Kitshoff was the leading loosehead this weekend ranking third for the 16 Carries he made while beating two defenders – an impressive statistic for a 120kg prop.
As the top tighthead this weekend, Malherbe made 11 tackles and one carry.
The only other South African in the team is the Emirates Lions’ talismanic flanker Jaco Kriel, who cracks the list for the second consecutive week.
Kriel was the top-ranked player for Turnovers Won with the four balls he stole in his side’s come-from-behind victory over the Highlanders.
He also contributed to the scoreboard with his try in the 56th minute while his 16 Tackles was also the third most over the weekend.
The Stats XV team has an otherwise New Zealand feel to it with five players from the Crusaders, two from the Blues and two more from the Hurricanes.
The Waratahs, the Brumbies and the Reds each contributed a player from the Australian conference.
Stats XV team:
15. Israel Folau (Waratahs), 14. Nafi Tuitavake (Crusaders), 13. Francis Saili (Blues), 12. Dan Carter (Crusaders), 11. Nemani Nadolo (Crusaders), 10. Colin Slade (Crusaders), 9. Will Genia (Reds), 8. Steven Luatua (Blues), 7. David Pocock (Brumbies), 6. Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5. Sam Whitelock (Crusaders), 4. Jeremy Thrush (Hurricanes), 3. Frans Malherbe (Stormers) 2. Motu Matu’u (Hurricanes), 1. Steven Kitshoff (Stormers).
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