Rugby World Cup 2019 winning Springboks Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) and Steven Kitshoff (Western Province) showed why they are rated among the best players in the world by dominating the overall stats at the completion of this year’s regulation matches in the Currie Cup.
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According to the SA Rugby website, Steyn (73 points) not only scored the most points after the league matches were dust and dusted, he also made 40 ball carries, topping the list with Kitshoff, as well as another experienced campaigner, Willem Alberts from the Lions.
STEYN LED THE KICKING STAT CATEGORY
Steyn also held sway in kicking accuracy, with a 93.55% success rate in slotting his 29 penalty goals and conversions from 31 attempts at goal.
KITSHOFF RANKED IN THE TOP 5 IN SEVERAL STATS
Kitshoff yet again underlined his value at the breakdown, with the Springbok prop ranking in the top five among tackles made and ball steals.
Eduan Keyter (Griquas) topped the try-scoring list with four tries, while Ali Mgijima of the Pumas and the Cheetahs’ Jeandre Rudolph topped the list for tackles made with 62 apiece.
Rudolph, who joined the Free Staters earlier this season, also topped the lists for ball steals and breakdown turnovers.
The semi-finals of the Currie Cup will be played next weekend and it remains to be seen whether any player will attempt a drop goal, as none of them were scored in regulation play.
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Carling Currie Cup stats:
Most points
73: Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 15 penalties, 14 conversions
63: Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions) – 3 tries, 16 penalties
56: Curwin Bosch (Sharks) – 10 penalties, 13 conversions
44: Tim Swiel (Western Province) – 12 penalties, 4 conversions
40: Morné Steyn (Bulls) – 10 penalties, 5 conversions
Kicking accuracy
Frans Steyn (Cheetahs) – 93.55%
Morné Steyn (Bulls)- 88.24%
Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions) – 84.21%
Curwin Bosch (Sharks) – 82.14%
Ginter Smuts (Pumas) – 80.00%
Most tries
4: Eduan Keyter (Griquas)
3: Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions)
3: Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas)
3: Daniel Maartens (Pumas)
3: Marco van Staden (Bulls)
3: Willie Engelbrecht (Pumas)
3: Bongi Mbonambi (Western Province)
3: Yaw Penxe (Sharks)
3: Courtnall Skosan (Lions)
3: Marnus van der Merwe (Cheetahs)
Ball carries
40: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)
40: Willem Alberts (Lions)
40: Frans Steyn (Cheetahs)
39: Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs)
38: Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions)
35: Darrien Landsberg (Pumas)
34: Marvin Orie (Lions)
Linebreaks
3: Ali Mgijima (Pumas)
3: Berton Klaasen (Griquas)
3: Siya Kolisi (Western Province)
Offloads
8: Luther Obi (Pumas)
7: Damian Willemse (Western Province)
7: Rikus Pretorius (Western Province)
7: Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs)
Most tackles made
62: Ali Mgijima (Pumas)
62: Jeandre Rudolph (Cheetahs)
60: Daniel Maartens (Pumas)
55: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)
53: Andisa Ntsila (Cheetahs)
Total ball steals
4: Jeandre Rudolph (Cheetahs)
3: Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas)
3: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)
3: Daniel Maartens (Pumas)
2: Ox Nche (Sharks)
Breakdown turnovers
9: Jeandre Rudolph (Cheetahs)
8: Gideon van der Merwe (Griquas)
5: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)
4: Daniel Maartens (Pumas)
4: Jaco Visagie (Lions)
