Super Rugby's most potent attacking weapon
While debate over who should don the Springboks No. 10 jersey heats up as the June test window nears, one player has separated himself from the pack.
Robert du Preez has emerged as a point-scoring machine since joining the Durban-based Sharks, leading the competition in points after 12 weeks of competition and declaring himself the most potent offensive weapon in Super Rugby.
While an outlandish call at first glance, there’s no doubt that du Preez has the numbers to back up the claim.
Du Preez’s point production has been on another level in 2018.
The first five-eighth has scored 132 points and four tries, good for best in the competition and best among his position respectively. That amounts to 13.2 points every outing, and when you throw in du Preez’s competition-leading seven try assists he is responsible for 16.7 Sharks points every game. He also ranks fourth in the competition in line-break assists (12), showing great awareness to put his teammates into space.
His 38-point outing against the Blues – the third highest single-game haul in Super Rugby history, where he kicked a perfect 13/13 from the tee and scored a try for good measure – and his 18-point effort against the Highlanders – where he outscored the New Zealand side by himself after scoring a try and converting six flawless kick attempts – stand out in what has been a breakthrough season for Du Preez, who has become the leader of one of the highest scoring teams in Super Rugby.
After ten games the Sharks rank third in points scored (296) and sixth in points per game (29.6 – 0.3 points separate teams ranked four through six). He has scored 45% of the Sharks’ total points and is responsible for an impressive 56% when try assists are factored in.
For reference the next highest points scorer, Damian McKenzie, has scored 107 of the Chiefs’ 268 points, good for 11.9 points per game and 39% of the Chiefs’ total points. When you add McKenzie’s six try assists he is responsible for 51% of the Chiefs scoring and his true points per game increases to 15.2.
The area that truly separates du Preez from the rest of the competition is his incredible ability from the tee.
The 24-year-old is kicking goals at an 88% clip (48/54) and has a ludicrous 94% rate (32/34) when it comes to conversions.
Only the Sunwolves’ Hayden Parker has been more accurate from flyhalf at 90% – though his sample size is significantly smaller as he has taken just 10 kicks.
Du Preez’ boot is also a significant weapon during the run of play. He leads the competition in kicking metres with 2260 and carves off an average of 33.7 metres every time he puts boot to ball.
With the Springboks in for a busy June featuring four tests, it will be tough for new coach Rassie Erasmus to overlook the Sharks’ young gun if he can maintain this level of performance.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments