Rugby Stats: Sharks' Esterhuizen SA's stand-out player

To highlight the South African franchises’ struggles to score points this weekend, Sharks flyer JP Pietersen was the top points-scorer among the South African teams with his two tries.

The Sharks bounced back this weekend with a confidence-boosting 32-15 victory over the Hurricanes in Durban while the other three teams in action slumped to defeat.

Despite the defeats there were some star performances in the losing teams which saw them feature among the top statistics taken from the All Out Rugby App powered by Vodacom.

Southern Kings loosie CJ Velleman continues his stellar debut Vodacom Super Rugby season as he constantly lands up among the top stats in the Carries and Tackles categories.

Velleman shares fourth place with Curtis Browning of the Reds in terms of Carries with 14 each with the Chiefs’ Damian McKenzie leading with 19.

Sharks centre André Esterhuizen follows in fifth place with Ben Smith (Highlanders), Jerome Kaino (Blues), Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) and John Stewart (Sunwolves) with 13.

Beating five defenders Esterhuizen is the combined third ranked player in this category with Dane Coles of the Hurricanes and the Blues’ Tevita Li.

Velleman and Sharks duo Daniel du Preez and Keegan Daniel are among a slew of players sharing fourth place in the Defenders Beaten category with four apiece.

Showing no sign of slowing down, Daniel cracked the top-five in terms of Metres Run ranking fourth with 106 metres compared to the leading man Jone Macilai-Tori of the Crusaders with 121 metres.

Showing his versatility Esterhuizen topped the Turnovers won category which he shares with Kings sparkplug Chris Cloete and Matt Todd of the Crusaders pinching four balls in their respective matches.

The Sharks’ Jean-Luc du Preez and Wasaike Naholo of the Highlanders follows shortly behind them with three each while Pietersen and Daniel are among eight players that won two turnovers each.

Velleman was not only monstrous on attack but played an immense role in his side’s gutsy defense against the Blues in Port Elizabeth.

Making 20 tackles, Velleman and Matt Hodgson of the Force topped the defensive stats with the Kings’ Shane Gates ranking second with one tackle less, while the Vodacom Bulls’ Lappies Labuschagne settled for fourth place with 17.

All Out Rugby stats review – Round 11

Carries:

1. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) – 19

2. Andrew Durutalo (Sunwolves) – 16

3. Andrew Ready (Reds) – 15

4. CJ Velleman (Kings) – 14

Curtis Browning (Reds) – 14

5. Ben Smith (Highlanders) – 13

André Esterhuizen (Sharks) – 13

Jerome Kaino (Blues) – 13

Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – 13

John Stewart (Sunwolves) – 13

Clean Breaks:

1. Jone Macilai-Tori (Crusaders) – 6

2. Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – 4

3. Akhito Yamada (Sunwolves) – 3

Bjorn Basson (Bulls) – 3

Richie Mo’unga (Crusaders) – 3

Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – 3

Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – 3

Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) – 3

Defenders Beaten:

1. Melani Nanai (Blues) – 9

2. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) – 8

Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs) – 8

3. Tevita Li (Blues) – 5

Dane Coles (Hurricanes) – 5

André Esterhuizen (Sharks) – 5

Jone Macilai-Tori (Crusaders) – 5

4. Dane Haylett-Petty (Force) – 4

Daniel du Preez (Sharks) – 4

Ihaia West (Blues) – 4

Akihito Yamada (Sunwolves) – 4

CJ Velleman (Kings) – 4

Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – 4

Harumichi Tatekawa (Sunwolves) – 4

Steven Luatua (Blues) – 4

Metres Run:

1. Jone Macilai-Tori (Crusaders) – 121 metres

2. Riaan Viljoen (Sunwolves) – 120

3. John Stewart (Sunwolves) – 114

4. Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – 106

5. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs) – 96

Turnovers Won:

1. Chris Cloete (Kings) – 4

André Esterhuizen (Sharks) – 4

Matt Todd (Crusaders) – 4

2. Jean-Luc du Preez (Sharks) – 3

Waisake Naholo (Highlanders) – 3

3. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) – 2

Scott Fardy (Brumbies) – 2

Michael Hooper (Waratahs) – 2

Alby Mathewson (Kings) – 2

JP Pietersen (Sharks) – 2

Keegan Daniel (Sharks) – 2

TJ Perenara (Hurricanes) – 2

Elliot Dixon (Highlanders) – 2

Tackles:

1. Matt Hodgson (Force) – 20

CJ Velleman (Kings) – 20

2. Shane Gates (Kings) – 19

3. Matt Todd (Crusaders) – 18

4. Lappies Labuschagne (Bulls) – 17

5. Ardie Savea (Hurricanes) – 16

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