If you are one of Australia’s four primary starting flyhalves and you racked up this set of stats (compared to the other three), then surely your name would be bandied around as a contender for a Wallabies jersey come the Rugby Championship.
Most tries scored, highest goal kicking percentage, most total points, equal first in total scoring events (tries and try assists), most line breaks, most kick metres, longest metres per kick, most run metres, highest run metres per game, second highest tackle efficiency percentage, fewest handling errors, fewest turnovers, fewest penalties conceded, fewest kicking errors.
Not a bad set of stats to hand over to your manager if you are looking for a money move, but they are made all the more impressive if you can achieve these in the weakest of the Australian Super Rugby teams – a side that finished second bottom in the competition overall.
They really are quite astonishing, but even as the Bernard Foley and Quade Cooper camps have retreated to their respective corners, the consensus for Wallaby starting ten has defaulted to the very worthy Christian Lealiifano.
But Bryce Hegarty, the owner of the above accomplishments, seems to have been largely ignored in discussions.
There is a caveat in his numbers of course. Of the 15 games played he played, ten were at flyhalf and five were at fullback, which would have aided his run metres numbers.
But most will remember in the early season, when he played three games at fullback, he was firmly stationed in the first receiver slot. Interestingly, his total season possession stats compare favourably to the other flyhalves despite his occasional exile out the back.
It’s also worth noting that, of the six games won by the Reds this year, four came with Hegarty at no.10. One was while he was at fullback, and the other was against the Sunwolves when he didn’t play.
Not a bad ratio for when he was running the cutter, especially picking up some South African scalps and knocking over the eventual Australian conference winners.
Last year, when Hegarty was moved to fullback at the Waratahs, I wrote that he brought a far greater balance to side, both through his positioning and skill execution, and he has proved again this year that he’s an excellent reader of the game with a set of skills that should at least be tried out at a higher level.
Low error rates
So often ignored in recent Wallaby selections, but nothing is going to kill you quicker at Test level than errors and turnovers, the biggest of ticks here, Hegarty is the standout in terms of effectiveness.
Offensive threat
The ability to accumulate points on behalf of your team is critical. Goal-kicking, distributing efficiently for those around you and a running game that both stops defenders sliding off you onto the next man while being able to personally take opportunities presented should all be prerequisites for Test selection.
Given the season that Samu Kerevi has had, one can assume Hegarty’s distribution game works just fine, couldn’t hurt to keep this partnership going at Test level either.
Defending
A ten that can defend in his own channel and stop any musical chairs happening behind him is an invaluable asset. Only Lealiifano can beat his tackle efficiency numbers and then only by a whisker.
It would appear highly unlikely that Bryce Hegarty is going to get the tap on the shoulder from the Wallaby coaching team this year, which if selecting on form looks a little short-sighted, but we should acknowledge he has had one hell of a football season.
dean
Guest
A timely and thoughtful article. Bryce is a player of the same die as the Nard however, his stats prove that his younger age makes him better. We will never win a World Cup with the Nard, nor will we with Bryce. That said, Bryce will afford us much more flexibility, consistency and courage than the Nard. Plus, he is tough, proper tough, deddly mob tough, unlike the Nard.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Fair point, soap.
Realist271
Guest
You forgot experience but I like him as a player
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Good call. Sounds like a promising backline. Stewart could be good at 12. A player in the Crotty mould, good defender and can distribute to the players outside him. What you lose in Kerevis brilliant attack you might make up a little bit with defence and quicker hands. Lucas looks like a future star. With Hegarty and McDermott running the show, f sautia at 13, Speight and Campbell on the wings - could be hope for us reds fans yet!
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Brilliant article @Highlander. Good to see him getting some recognition. What a brilliant year in a poor team. Would defo have Hegarty on the bench for the wallabies. He could cover 10 and 15 (for banks and CLL hopefully) and would be the goal kicking option. It would give him opportunity at international level to get some experience at 10 coming on late in the game. He is only 26 and has a lot of years to give the wallabies if he is given the chance. Easily the most underrated player in super rugby!
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@Highlander - good article :) I agree that Hegarty is as under-rated as Foley and Beale are over-rated. Heg's is the no 2 form Aussie flyhalf in 2019 imo after Lealiifano. Possibly the reason he doesn't get mentioned is cos everyone knows Cheika will pick Foley again and Cooper (for reasons unknown) is a polarising player people can't stop talking about. Either way Heg's deserves better imo :)
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
A better stat is average metres per carry as long as they are playing the same position. General runs metres is very deceptive
Bourkos
Roar Rookie
Honestly thought Hegarty helped the Waratahs in back 3 structure. However, at the Reds he just isn't a playmaker. He throws the obvious 1 out pass everytime if he isn't kicking aimlessly. As a comparison this season he demonstrated form far below cll
AJ
Guest
Good article, thanks mate. Hegarty is a really good professional player and puts in 100%. He's a try scorer and takes his opportunities. Was a good pick up for the Reds and wouldn't let you down if you had to chuck him like Donald or a Marty Banks type.
Timbo (L)
Roar Guru
He has just come back from Europe and GRR recognized his talent and gave him an opportunity. SR isn't necessarily the pinnacle of Australian rugby. GRR may be the future.
Adrian
Roar Rookie
He's in my squad, and maybe my XV 100%
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
He also never finds the grass in kicking duals. He chases kicks well.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
That was referring to beating on the ladder, as they obviously beat a Kiwi and multiple South African teams also.
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Stats and IPads don’t win matches. Lealiifano is our best 10. With Kerevi and Kuridrani we will need Beale and Banks to provide something different. Hegearty would if called on do a good job.
Highlander
Guest
Thanks Peter, and all good points. I too would be selecting CLL first off the rank come test time. If there is a criticism of Hegarty’s kicking game it would be that he rarely finds the grass when executing the now widely used, punt up the middle of the park, and asking your D line to chase.
soapit
Roar Guru
For me it also comes down to the fact that neither Foley or Cooper are playing very well at all with supposedly good players around then while Hegarty has been fairly solid in a reasonably poor team. For me he's definely shown enough to see how he goes in better company particularly considering the alternative s outside çll.
Ralph
Roar Guru
Some interesting points Highlander. With those kinds of stats I wish I had watched him this season to see the quality of the plays he is making.
Machooka
Roar Guru
Apologies mate! I suppose, on reflection, it was the latest instalment of this sorry IF saga that triggered my comment/ thoughts. On a more positive note, truthful note, your ID of Bryce's abilities are sound. Solid. And just like the player himself. I did wonder when the 'trade' was done, this season of essentially him for that silly Hunt, whether my Tahs had let 'one' go!?! Methinks, now, that was very much the case... Again, apologies... IF only I had resisted temptation ;)
Ralph
Roar Guru
Just had a quick look and his bio looks good. At 24 there is still time, but why is he not signed in Super rugby and who is in front of him?
Highlander
Guest
Couldn’t help yourself could you chook, keeping this an ideology free zone today