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South Africans dominate URC's try-scoring charts

(Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

South Africans have dominated the URC’s try scoring charts, making up five of the top six come the end of the regular season. Stormers winger Leolin Zas topped the charts with 11 first class finishes across the campaign.

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Zas claimed his accolade alongside fellow South African and Bulls second-row Ruan Nortje, who took home the ‘Ironman’ award for playing the most minutes throughout the 18 rounds of the URC.

Other winners included Ulster’s Alan O’Connor, who claimed the highest tackle count, and Ospreys duo Jac Morgan, who won the most turnovers, and Gareth Anscombe, who claimed the Gilbert Golden Boot.

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James O’Connor is brilliantly open about his life & career | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 36

James O’Connor joins the lads this week to walk us through his phenomenal and often misunderstood career. He talks to us about being the youngest player to line out in Super Rugby and for the Wallabies, struggling with alcohol, fame and partying, as well as playing in London, Manchester and Toulon before returning to Australia. One of the most talented players of his generation, he gives us an incredible insight into the highs and lows of his career so far and what his plans are next. Max and Ryan also cover off the Champions Challenge Cup Finals and the jubilant scenes in La Rochelle

Video Spacer

James O’Connor is brilliantly open about his life & career | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 36

James O’Connor joins the lads this week to walk us through his phenomenal and often misunderstood career. He talks to us about being the youngest player to line out in Super Rugby and for the Wallabies, struggling with alcohol, fame and partying, as well as playing in London, Manchester and Toulon before returning to Australia. One of the most talented players of his generation, he gives us an incredible insight into the highs and lows of his career so far and what his plans are next. Max and Ryan also cover off the Champions Challenge Cup Finals and the jubilant scenes in La Rochelle

“It is incredible to think that I finished the regular season as the top try scorer in the competition,” Zas said. “A lot of those tries are down to the hard work of my teammates creating the opportunities for me to finish. I am grateful to them, the management, my family and our fans for the amazing support I have got this season.”

Zas started the season imperiously, scoring at least one try in each of his first six URC outings. His place at the top of the charts looked beyond doubt, until fellow South African fullback Rhyno Smith claimed seven tries in his last three appearances for Benetton, drawing level with Zas on 10.

The Stormers star soon responded, scoring the opening try in his side’s Round 18 victory over the Scarlets to maintain the top spot.

Fellow winger and Stormers teammate Seabelo Senatla finished joint third in the charts with nine tries, sharing the spot with Bulls flanker Marcell Coetzee. The Bull’s Johan Grobbelaar and the Scarlets’ Johnny McNicholl came fifth with eight tries a piece.

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South African contingents, specifically from the Bulls, also dominated the Ironman award. Nortje played a total of 1,394 minutes and was one of 14 men to feature in all 18 league games.

South Africa URC
(Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

“I am humbled and honoured to receive the United Rugby Championship Ironman Award for the 2021/22 season,” he said. “To receive this recognition in a world-class competition with some of the most respected players is definitely something that will remain a highlight in my playing career. To be able to put on the blue jersey and play for the badge in such a premier championship is something I do not take lightly. I look forward to many more memories and matches in the URC.”

Fellow Bulls players Coetzee and Madosh Tambwe came third and fourth respectively, both clocking almost 1,300 on-field minutes. Stormers duo Ruhan Nel and Manie Libbok came second and fifth, completing an all-South African top five.

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The dream team and next-gen star of the season will be announced later in the week while fans’ player of the season, the coach of the season and players’ player of the season will be announced before the URC final.

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Tom 1 hour ago
England player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series

That 2019 performance was literally the peak in attacking rugby under Eddie. If you thought that was underwhelming, the rest of it was garbage.


I totally get what you're saying and England don't need or have any God given right to the best coaches in the world... But I actually think the coaches we do have are quite poor and for the richest union in the world, that's not good enough. 


England are competitive for sure but with the talent pool up here and the funds available, we should be in the top 3. At the very least we should be winning six nations titles on a semi-regular basis. If Ireland can, England definitely should.


England's attack coach (Richard Wigglesworth) is Borthwick's mate from his playing days at Saracens, who he brought to Leicester with him when he became coach. Wigglesworth was a 9 who had no running or passing game, but was the best box kicker in the business. He has no credentials to be an attack coach and I've seen nothing to prove otherwise. Aside from Marcus Smith’s individual brilliance, our collective attack has looked very uninspiring.

 

England's defence coach (Joe El-Abd) is Borthwick's housemate from uni, who has never been employed as a defence coach before. He's doing the job part time while he's still the head coach of a team in the second division of French rugby who have an awful defensive record. England's defence has gone from being brutally efficient under Felix Jones to as leaky as a colander almost overnight.


If Borthwick brings in a new attack and defence coach then I'll absolutely get behind him but his current coaches seem to be the product of nepotism. He's brought in people he's comfortable with because he lacks confidence as an international head coach and they aren't good enough for international rugby.


England are competitive because they do some things really well, mostly they front up physically, make a lot of big hits, have a solid kicking game, a good lineout, good maul, Marcus Smith and some solid forwards. A lot of what we do well I would ascribe to Borthwick personally. I don't think he's a bad coach, I think he lacks imagination and is overly risk averse. He needs coaches who will bring a point of difference.


I guess my point is, yes England are competitive, but we’re not aiming for competitive and I honestly don't believe this coaching setup has what it takes to make us any better than competitive.


On the plus side it looks like we have an amazing crop of young players coming through. Some of them who won the u20 world cup played for England A against Australia A on the weekend and looked incredible... Check out the highlights on youtube.

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