Botha tops Aviva Premiership tackle stats
Newcastle Falcons’ Mouritz Botha was the joint top-tackler in last weekend’s Aviva Premiership, putting in 22 hits during Saturday’s 32-17 loss at Exeter Chiefs.
Botha was joined by former Saracens team-mate Brad Barritt in leading the league stats for the weekend, Barritt the first back to top the list since Falcons’ old boy Tane Tu’ipulotu against Bath in 2009.
Newcastle flanker Mark Wilson just one behind the pair on 21, team-mates Nili Latu and Alex Rogers second in the list for ‘turnovers won’ after pulling off two ball-steals apiece.
Over the course of the Aviva Premiership season Falcons captain Will Welch leads the league’s tackle stats, having put in 180.
Wilson is third with 168, Newcastle this week travelling to Bath in Friday night’s televised game (7.45pm on BT Sport).
**AVIVA PREMIERSHIP TOP PERFORMERS FOR ROUND 16** (courtesy of Opta)
**Tackles**
Mouritz Botha (Newcastle Falcons), Brad Barritt (Saracens) – 22
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) – 21
Hayden Smith, Michael Rhodes (both Saracens) – 17
**Carries**
Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs) – 22
Jackson Wray (Saracens), Sam Jones (Wasps) – 19
Sean Maitland (London Irish), Amanaki Mafi (Bath Rugby), Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) – 18
**Metres made**
Alex Goode (Saracens) – 154m
Charlie Walker (Harlequins) – 132m
Ross Chisholm (Harlequins) – 111m
**Defenders beaten**
Charles Piutau (Wasps), Alex Lewington (London Irish) – 7
Alex Goode (Saracens), Charlie Walker (Harlequins), Phil Dollman (Exeter Chiefs) – 5
**Turnovers won**
Nick Easter (Harlequins) – 5
Kelly Brown (Saracens), Nili Latu (Newcastle Falcons), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Siale Piutau (Wasps), Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Rogers (Newcastle Falcons), Ethan Waller (Northampton Saints), Mark Easter (Sale Sharks), Lachlan McCaffrey (Leicester Tigers), Cameron Neild (Sale Sharks) – 2
**Clean breaks**
Tom Collins (Northampton Saints) – 4
Tom Cruse (London Irish), Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs), Charlie Walker (Harlequins), Charles Piutau (Wasps) – 3
