Despite the worst showing by South African teams in Vodacom SupeRugby in more than eight years, eight players from our shores made it into the Stats XV team.
The team has a strong blue and red tinge with the Vodacom Bulls contributing four players and the Emirates Lions three more, and one player from the Cell C Sharks.
It is also the third consecutive week that Lions’ flanker Jaco Kriel earned a place in the team based on statistics taken from the Vodacom Rugby App.
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.
Lions fullback Andries Coetzee and Sharks fly half Lionel Cronje are the only back line players from South Africa on the list.
Coetzee made the Stats XV team following a stellar performance in his side’s defeat to the Brumbies over the weekend.
He topped the rankings for Defenders Beaten (11), Kicks Caught (8) while making the second most Clean Breaks (3).
Cronje made two Try Assists to top that category and he also ranked second for his three Offloads, with his two Clean Breaks earning him a third-placed ranking.
Lions captain Warren Whiteley was the top eighth man over the weekend with his two Offloads, and the four Lineouts won on own throw and 14 Tackles ranking among the top five.
Producing stellar performances week after week, Kriel’s star continues to rise as he beat seven defenders and even took four line-outs over the weekend while adding a try to his tally.
Bulls stalwart Victor Matfield was the top lock in Round 14 of Vodacom SupeRugby, where he won the most line-outs on his side’s own throw with the eight he took and also doing his part defensively with 10 tackles.
The entire front-row of the Stats XV team consists of Bulls players with Marcel van der Merwe, Adriaan Strauss and Trevor Nyakane making it into the side.
Stats XV team:
15. Andries Coetzee (Lions), 14. Hosea Gear (Chiefs), 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Waratahs), 12. Ma’a Nonu (Hurricanes), 11. Sefanaia Naivula (Rebels), 10. Lionel Cronje (Sharks), 9. Will Genia (Reds), 8. Warren Whiteley (Lions), 7. Liam Gill (Reds), 6. Jaco Kriel (Lions), 5. Victor Matfield (Bulls), 4. Alex Ainley (Highlanders), 3. Marcel van der Merwe (Bulls), 2. Adriaan Strauss (Bulls), 1. Trevor Nyakane (Bulls).
