As Siya Kolisi prepares for his first run in the Champions Cup for French club Racing 92, Opta Stats breaks down what makes the loose forward so valuable.
Kolisi, who got his first taste of Champions Cup action while at the Sharks, is set for his first run in the competition in the blue-and-white hoops of Racing 92.
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The Springbok captain made his long-awaited starting debut for the French club in a 32-10 Top 14 victory over La Rochelle on 26 November.
Ahead of Kolisi’s second appearance for Racing against English side Harlequins in Paris, Opta Stats posted a thread on X (formerly Twitter) breaking down what puts him among the elite loose forwards in the world.
đź’Ş – Kolisi is one of just two men to captain their nation to @rugbyworldcup victory on two occasions, alongside Richie McCaw – he is a player who epitomises quality over quantity; he doesn’t tally huge numbers of carries and tackles, but he makes big impacts. Selective. pic.twitter.com/09sJQ3Gluc
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) December 7, 2023
38% – His impact isn’t limited to just tackling though, he packs a similar punch with his carrying – of forwards to carry into contact on 50+ occasions during Kolisi’s time in the URC, only two players recorded a better dominant carry rate than the former Shark (38%). Snappy. pic.twitter.com/pifAiAH0N7
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) December 7, 2023
21.7% – At the breakdown he is a nuisance, in his URC spell he won a turnover (via jackal or penalty) or slowed down 20 of his 92 defensive rucks; of the 71 forwards to hit as many defensive rucks as him, only five recorded a better effectiveness rate. Menace. pic.twitter.com/i53csrcNbw
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) December 7, 2023
Photo: Christian Liewig – Corbis/Getty Images
