Rugby: Deadly kickers on show in Hamilton

Despite being one of the competition's top goalkickers, Piri Weepu won't handle the duties for the Hurricanes on Friday. Photo / Getty Images

Two of Super rugby's deadliest goalkicking sides square off in the Hamilton on Friday but it's a different story for the wayward Crusaders in South Africa.

Statistics for this year's tournament throw up surprise results when it comes to accuracy between the posts, with part-time ACT Brumbies veteran Stirling Mortlock having the best success rate of anyone.

His 27-from-32 record gives the Wallabies centre an excellent 84.3 per cent record.

Next on the list are two combatants in action at Waikato Stadium, with Piri Weepu on 80 per cent (21/26) for the Hurricanes and Stephen Donald 76.6 per cent (49/64) for the Chiefs.

Despite his accuracy, it appears Weepu won't handle the duties again this week, with coach Colin Cooper saying he will stick with first five-eighth Willie Ripia for the role.

Ripia sits sixth in the competition on 74.4 per cent (32/43) but memories are still vivid of his one-from-five return when the Hurricanes lost to the Chiefs in Hamilton less than two weeks ago.

Cooper later revealed Weepu would have taken over that night if another kick presented itself.

However, Ripia was used again against the Reds last Saturday and responded with five-from-seven.

Donald's form will please the All Blacks selectors as the Waikato playmaker is set to wear No 10 for his country this winter and hasn't always been known for his goalkicking prowess.

Meanwhile, the Crusaders can't afford to rely on goalkicking to beat the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday morning (NZT), with their overall success rate of 54.8 per cent easily the lowest of any team.

Stephen Brett (55 per cent) and Colin Slade (43 per cent) both struggled early in the campaign.

Veteran fullback Leon MacDonald has been an improvement since taking over three weeks ago, landing 12-from-18 at 67 per cent.

Bulls first five-eighth Morne Steyn has had comfortably more shots at goal than anyone this year, landing a steady 51-from-72 at 71 per cent to be the competition's leading pointscorer.

SUPER 14 GOALKICKERS

Most accurate (percentage, minimum of 20 shots)
84.3 - Stirling Mortlock (ACT Brumbies)
80.0 - PIRI WEEPU (Hurricanes)
76.6 - STEPHEN DONALD (Chiefs)
76.4 - Rory Kockott (Sharks)
76.2 - Berrick Barnes (Reds)
74.4 - WILLIE RIPIA (Hurricanes)
72.4 - Peter Grant (Stormers)
72.0 - MATT BERQUIST (Highlanders)
71.9 - Matt Giteau (Western Force)
71.4 - Mark Gerrard (ACT Brumbies)
70.8 - Morne Steyn (Bulls)
69.2 - DANIEL BOWDEN (Highlanders)
68.8 - Jacques-Louis Potgeiter (Cheetahs)
67.9 - JIMMY GOPPERTH (Blues)
67.3 - Andre Pretorius (Lions)
65.7 - Daniel Halangahu (Waratahs)
64.0 - Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
62.5 - Willem de Waal (Stormers)
55.2 - STEPHEN BRETT (Crusaders)

Team statistics (percentage):
77.8 - ACT Brumbies
76.8 - CHIEFS
76.3 - HURRICANES
72.3 - Cheetahs
72.0 - Bulls
71.2 - Sharks
70.6 - Western Force
69.6 - HIGHLANDERS
68.4 - Lions
67.9 - Stormers
62.9 - NSW Waratahs
62.7 - Queensland Reds
61.9 - Blues
54.8 - CRUSADERS

- NZPA