Goosen best of the lot
8 Aug 2012
A statistical study of this year’s Super Rugby goal-kickers saw Johan Goosen rated as the best performer.
The young flyhalf only featured in half of this year’s tournament as he suffered a serious shoulder injury during the Cheetahs’ 36-33 defeat to the Highlanders in April. However, he was the outstanding goal kicker of the tournament when fit, topping the overall individual point-scorer list and impressing with his distance and accuracy from all over the field.
And according to the overall stats, he was the best performer from the kicking tee.
Goosen boasted an 86% success rate (48 from 56 attempts). He also had more challenging kicks at goal than the other regular goal-kickers. The player also did well on attack and was solid on defence in general play.
This form caught the attention of Springbok head coach Heyneke Meyer. While Goosen was set to feature for the Baby Boks in the Junior World Championship in June, it’s believed that Meyer was keen on introducing the 20-year-old to Test rugby during the series against England. However, injury ruled Goosen out.
The Cheetahs playmaker will return during the Currie Cup in September. If he remains match fit and rediscovers the form he displayed during Super Rugby, we could see Goosen feature for the Boks during the end-of-year tour to Europe.
The major concern from these statistics is the struggle of Bok flyhalf incumbent Morne Steyn. He had the worst success rate among the South African goal-kickers with only 76% (84 from 110 attempts).
His goal kicking was also a concern during the Boks’ June Test series against England. He only converted 13 kicks from 23 attempts over the three matches, which is a success rate of 57%. This included a poor performance in the third Test, a 14-14 stalemate in PE, which saw him miss four goal attempts.
Meyer has come out in Steyn’s defence in a recent interview with SA Rugby magazine, saying: ‘I feel for Morné because in the past three years he has played every single Test and Super Rugby game he can. He hasn’t missed one training session in that time either. I had a sense it would take its toll eventually and I think what we saw was mental fatigue. He’ll get his form back.
‘Nobody’s place is cemented in the national team, but I think there are mitigating factors regarding Morné. He needs a mental break.’
Super Rugby goal kicker rankings (Click on graphic)
Meanwhile, Stormers pivot Peter Grant was ranked third overall according to the study, even though he boasted the highest success rate of 93% (50 from 54 attempts). However, it was noted that he had easier kicks compared to the other goal kickers on the top 10 list (the difficulty rating is determined by three factors – angle, distance and altitude).
Sharks fullback Pat Lambie was the next best South African in sixth place, with a 80% success rate (52 from 65 attempts). Elton Jantjies was ranked 14th overall, with a success rate of 86% (49 from 57 attempts). But like Grant, the Lions flyhalf enjoyed easier shots at goal.
From a foreign point of view, All Blacks flyhalf Dan Carter struggled overall, but picked up form during the June Test window and the latter part of Super Rugby. Reds centre Mike Harris was rated as Australia’s best goal-kicker, with Rebels fullback James O’Connor also impressing before being sidelined with injury.
By Gareth Duncan
Study done by statistician Jurie Nel. Model accepted for publication in the South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation (University of Stellenbosch). Contact Nel via jurien@assupol.co.za.
82 Comments
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8 Aug 2012, 13:45 pm
never been a grant fan… spoken about his failings many times in the past…
he’d not be my pick for boks/stormers or even wp… as far as his general game is concerned…
but this is really stretching credibility to finger-stinging breaking point…
anyone who believes he was not the most accurate and reliable kicker with 93% (and next best 86%) is really smoking their socks…
8 Aug 2012, 14:01 pm
@RL-42:
Oh you talking AVERAGE DISTANCE, not total kicking meters.
Then yes, I agree.
8 Aug 2012, 14:04 pm
@Bok fan-40:
SPOT ON!! I’ve been saying it for years.
Currie Cup is used to find form, maybe Super Rugby. Not test rugby.
8 Aug 2012, 14:08 pm
@ufo-51:
Grant was the most accurate. But ask him to take every kick up to 50-55 m (like every other 10 in SA does) and that 93% would drop very quickly.
He is the most reliable kicker from 30-40m out, but he’s the only kicker who is asked to kicked ONLY that distance.
He can practice over and over from that range. He never has to change is kicking action/leg speed. Of course his % will be through the roof.
8 Aug 2012, 14:16 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-54:
yeah bud… but the facts are that he got a higher percentage over than anyone else… quite a few from the touch lines… sharks/crusaders etc.. even with saders fans blowing brasshorns…
and the thing is he can actually place kick from halfway too… have seen him do it… although not this year as you say…
but to try and diminish he place-kicking ability because he never took any from the other 10-meter line is just not being accurate… morne missed some sitters from right in front of the posts… if he missed only long range ones the distance thing may hold water…
i think the distance of grants kicks had more to do with the stormers defense forcing errors from the opposition in their 22 than anything else…
8 Aug 2012, 14:21 pm
Does anyone know if there is a Keo pool for CC setup on Superbru?
8 Aug 2012, 14:26 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-53: On the opposite side, Im just praying Kolisi gets a start ahead of Spies. I know Im dreaming, just encase Meyer reads these blogs
8 Aug 2012, 14:41 pm
@MacToogie-56: you did well in the superrugby one. congrats guy. did you finish 2nd?
8 Aug 2012, 14:46 pm
@Sasuke-58:
no, unfortunately had some brain farts towards the end, ta anyways. know of any Keo pool for the CC 2012 yet?
8 Aug 2012, 14:46 pm
@ufo-55:
I hear you.
But then why doesn’t he take the 50m kicks? Or even the 45m kicks? And yes, Morne does fluff ones from close too, and that’s why his stats were pretty low according to this list.
But the point is, if you miss a kick from 50m, it should (like on this list) count less against you than if you miss from 30m. The extreme would be Frans Steyn, who only averages around 50% for the Boks, because all his kicks are 50-65m.
Look, the guys a sharp shoot from close range, but you can’t take 93% at face value. IMO.
8 Aug 2012, 14:47 pm
@Bok fan-57:
Mate, I’m praying Keo is picked at 8 before Spies.
8 Aug 2012, 14:51 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-61:
ABS.
8 Aug 2012, 15:10 pm
UFO, if I look back to my school days. I was a 75% kicker from close range, but I also took kicks up to 45-50m and my % from that range was 40-50%.
So average out, my overall % was around 60%. Now I can’t go around saying I’m a 75% kicker and simply ignore my lower distance kicking %.
Even if I didn’t take those longer kicks at all (Like Grant), I still wouldn’t call myself a true 75% kicker when some kid from Affies is kicking at 75% as well, but he also handles the long kicks.
So is it fair to call Grant a true 93% kicker based on what is expected of a provincial kicker? Well, I guess the answer to that is subjective, but I expect my first choice kicker handle anthing up to 50-55m.
8 Aug 2012, 16:45 pm
If any of u know heyneke well give him this team please!! To safe bokrugby forever!
1.Beast
2.Bismarck
3.Jannie or coenie
4.Eben
5.Andries or juandre
6.Marcell or kolisi
7. Alberts
8.Vermeulen or schalk or kanko
9.Francois
10.Johan goosen
11.Bjorn
12.Frans
13.Jj or jordaan
14.Jp
15.Taute
16.Chilliboy
17. Cilliers or coenie
18.Juandre or bekker
19.Spies or brussow
20.Van zyl
21.Lambie
22.Jordaan or jj
That’s our team to the world cup
8 Aug 2012, 21:19 pm
goosen is an overated plonker. plaYING good in a handfull of super rugby games dont make you a world beater(they lost most of those games btw).
8 Aug 2012, 21:24 pm
the stormers mistake this past season was jdv at 12 .Peter Grant at 10. no back row whatsoever.
8 Aug 2012, 21:28 pm
we really shouldv kept sadie. i think jdj makes a good impact player. also why cant wp find a good flyhalf with skill
8 Aug 2012, 21:38 pm
@Wezwp-67: That injury-prone K. Pietersen-like idiot?Bulls fans on rugby forums say they can’t remember seeing him wearing a Bulls jersey.They are glad he is gone.
9 Aug 2012, 04:34 am
Goosen is obviously a good kicker, have yet to see him knock over the pressure ones to win big games, but he will get his chance sooner or later no doubt.
9 Aug 2012, 05:49 am
@Te Rangatira-69:
Aish TR, as a long suffering Cheetah supporter I can tell you we hardly ever win big games…not that we don’t win them so much as us never playing in them!
PS I think he has the goods and like you say, we will soon see.
9 Aug 2012, 06:43 am
@Slartibartfast-70:
Sorry Slarti, after I posted #69, I thought geez he mightn’t get the chance to play or win the big games at the Cheetahs. I do think he is better than a good kicker, hes actually a marvelous one, and if injury free will definitely go on to win the big tests, not only with his boot but with his all round game.
9 Aug 2012, 07:43 am
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-60:
if you can’t take a 93% fact at face value… what can you…? speculative subjective degrees of difficulty…???
they say altitude was one of the factors considered for degrees of difficulty… obviously referring to the greater distances kicked at altitude… so peter grant kicks at sea level most of the time…should we dismiss morne and goosen’s distance ability because they were achieved mostly with the advantage of altitude…? no…
the ONLY facts are the actual percentages of kicks achieved by each player… everything else is purely statistical tap-dancing to advance the claims of certain players over others…
why did we not have these machinations of statistics when morne was kicking well…? makes you think hey…?
but if people feel they need to go to such lengths to get their player in pole position… well… let’s hope morne and goosen can convert those statistics in future…
9 Aug 2012, 08:57 am
Goosen looks good have to say, but he was out for half of the Super15 so this Article is not really a true reflection. But I agree the kid is a super talent and great for the future. We still need Brussow in the mix – Coetzee/Kolisi and Alberts will be spectators against Pocock and Sir Richie…
9 Aug 2012, 09:55 am
morne needs a mental break. only way he’ll get it is to drop him until next year. playing him in the championship will only make it worse surely?
9 Aug 2012, 11:08 am
munkiboi – The Boks had a long break after the RWC last year! Maybe Morne Steyn needs a stint in France or England, get a new perspective on rugby/life!
9 Aug 2012, 13:26 pm
@ufo-72:
Agree to disagree boet.
Let’s just hope whoever kicks for the Boks kicks at 93% too, no matter the distance
9 Aug 2012, 19:41 pm
Is the twat who wrote this article trying to create the impression that DC and EJ is kak compared to the great white hope. This laaitie saw his bum against EJ and now they are trying to concoct some numbers to to create a lie of overall performance… Sometimes I wonder how far these twats will go to embarrass themselves… I suppose the sky is the limit when you embrace twatism
9 Aug 2012, 19:51 pm
How do you measure kicking difficulty… and what are the assumptions
10 Aug 2012, 05:46 am
No doubt he is a good flyhalf.
But these days what makes a good #10 and probably the most important is decision making. Sure he can kick the goals, he also needs to make sure that backline is running correctly. He needs to communicate so they all know whats happening. He is young so he has time.
Goal kicking….tick
The rest yet to be shown.
10 Aug 2012, 10:21 am
Only way Morne is going to get a break from rugby is to pick him in the Bok squad and managing him. Leaving him out of the squad will lead to the Bulle picking him for every Currie Cup game as they have done for the last 2 / 3 years.
10 Aug 2012, 12:10 pm
@youknowwho-78:
Maybe read the article, it does tell you.
@Hurricane-79:
Cane, that’s why the article is about kicking stats, not all round play. I disagree with your statement though. A flyhalf needs to kick the goals, first and foremost. If Carter couldn’t kick, he wouldn’t be the AB FH (unless a ‘Percy’ type fullback did the kicking).
10 Aug 2012, 12:46 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark)-81:
haha yeah i thought you would disagree.
Keep your kicking flyhalf. Morne #2.
I would rather have a #10 that makes the right decisions.
Carter is not in there for his kicking. In fact Piri had a better percentage than Carter last year and the year before.
But yeah i did go off track a bit but my statement still stands.
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