URC players with the 'biggest engines'
STATISTICAL SPOTLIGHT: South African players feature prominently in the statistical analysis of the past year’s United Rugby Championship matches.
@OptaJonny has released its latest batch of statistical data of the major European-based competitions.
* In this article we look at the URC!
Scarlets’ powerful loose forward Sione Kalamafoni made more carries (342) and more tackles (255) than any other player in 2022 and was one of just seven players to gain 1000+ metres last year (1017 metres), alongside teammate Ryan Conbeer (1010 metres).
He was closely followed in the ‘big engine’ (read high workrate) category by Bulls lock Ruan Nortje and Nick Timoney (both 252 tackles), Marvin Orie (251) and Marcell Coetzee.
Speaking of Coetzee, currently, on a sabbatical in Japan, his 14 tries were three more than any other player in 2022 , while Bulls teammate Kurt-Lee Arendse also ranked joint-third for tries scored (10) and first for both metres made (1537 metres) and defenders beaten (64) last year.
Another South African topping the charts in the URC is Sharks and Springbok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi.
His 14 percent of dominant tackles (13/91) were the highest of any forward to attempt 50 or more tackles last year.
Ulster’s Sean Reffell made 39 tackles against Munster, with only Jonny Gray (43 versus Leinster in 2019) having made more in a single URC/Pro14 match since Opta started recording this data.
Ulster’s total of 290 tackles was their most ever in the league and the third most overall.
Source: @OptaJonny
