Battle of the breakdown: The surprising jackal king
01/28/2025 03:52 AM
STAT ATTACK: United Rugby Championship Round 10 saw plenty of skill and flair from the backs. However, who did the donkey work at the breakdown?
The best jackals are, mostly, those fearless forwards who put their heads into dark and dangerous places.
However, the 202425 URC season has a surprise entry for the King of the Breakdown category.
There are two forwards in the top three of Round 10 for turnovers won and one back - all tied on three steals each.
Former BlitzBok and current Lions loose forward JC Pretorius and Wales veteran Justin Tipuric are leading the charge in the forwards.
However, Stormers fullback Warrick Gelant is continuing his 'out the box' play - joining them as the Round 10 leaders.
Gelant has been the leading 'poacher' for the Stormers this season.
Following a 29-10 win back in December against the Lions, Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson praised the real value of Warrick Gelant - following his breakdown heroics.
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While Gelant is only 20th on the tournament's Jackal stats, with six steals, he is still the Stormers' best 'poacher'.
He is followed by another back, wing Suleiman Hartzenberg (five steals), with hooker Joseph Dwen (five) as the top forward.
Lions loose forward Pretorius is South Africa's top jackal on the overall stats, in fourth place with 12 and Tipuric in fifth spot with 11 turnovers won.
Manuel Zulani (Benetton) and Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), both on 13, are the tournament's leading jackals.
URC Round 10 turnover stats
URC 2024/25 turnover stats
