Stats prove how good Robert Du Preez really is
STAT ATTACK: Robert du Preez received plenty of criticism when he was playing in South Africa.
The 27-year-old Springbok flyhalf left many fans frustrated with his inconsistent performances while playing for Western Province, Stormers and the Sharks.
It left fans wondering whether he would ever reach his full potential after showing great promise during his time as an age-group player with the Sharks and his time with the SA Under-20 side.
In his final season with Western Province in 2017, Du Preez helped the team win the Currie Cup before he returned to Durban ahead of the 2018 season to link up with his father, who was the head coach of the Sharks at the time.
The flyhalf turned out not to be the general everyone was expecting and there was growing pressure for Du Preez senior to drop his son in favour of Curwin Bosch.
Du Preez junior’s time with the Durban side was eventually short-lived and he left the after the 2019 Super Rugby season to join England’s Sale Sharks.
And it seems he is enjoying a new lease on life, with strong performances for the Premiership team and the stats are backing it up.
According to Opta Sports‘ stats, “the Sale Sharks flyhalf has assisted eight tries in Premiership Rugby this season, more than any other player”.
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8 – Robert du Preez turns 27 today; the @SaleSharksRugby fly half has assisted eight tries in @premrugby this season, more than any other player. Provider. pic.twitter.com/MBFnBXLmXB
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) July 30, 2020
That is some stat considering the number of top-class players that are in England.
Sale Sharks are currently the joint second-best attacking team in the Premiership in the 2019/2020 season with 42 tries and Du Preez’s direction from the No.10 jersey has played a key role in that stat.
Du Preez is also currently the Premiership’s third-highest points scorer in the 2019/2020 season with 116 points, which is just 10 points less than current leader Marcus Smith (126).
Overall he amassed 233 points for Sale Sharks from his 29 games for the club.
Sale Sharks are sitting in second place in the 2019/2020 Premiership standings, just five points behind leaders Exeter Chiefs.
With the confidence he is showing on the field, he is only set to grow in his role as a No.10 in England.
