Rugby: Folau leading the way in carries and offloads

Waratahs fullback Israel Folau gets his hands on the ball a lot and he has registered a competition-leading 115 carries. Folau also leads the league in offloads with 24. Photo / Getty Images

Every team has played at least eight games this season, which means we are at - or past - the halfway point of the 2015 Super Rugby campaign.

With that in mind, let's look at who have been the biggest number-crunchers on the paddock this year.

Tackling
Lions flanker Warren Whiteley leads the charge here by some distance with 129 tackles this season, 21 more than teammate Warwick Tecklenburg. The Lions have spent plenty of time on defence, which has helped Whiteley's tally. Sharks lock Mouritz Botha has missed the most tackles with 23.

Carries
Waratahs fullback Israel Folau gets his hands on the ball a lot and he has registered a competition-leading 115 carries. Folau also leads the league in offloads with 24. Fellow Waratah Kurtley Beale is the next best with 19.

Lineout takes
Brumbies lock Sam Carter has been the go-to man for the Canberra-based side this year with 43 receptions, 10 more than Reds loose forward Jake Schatz. Reds flanker Adam Thomson leads the competition in lineout steals with seven.

Defenders beaten
Stormers utility back Damian de Allende is perhaps a surprise leader in this category with 38 defenders beaten this year. Folau, who has a hand in a lot of what the Waratahs do on attack, has beaten 33 defenders.

Turnovers won
Reds flanker Liam Gill has grabbed 15 turnovers this season, one ahead of Chiefs standout Sam Cane (14). Gill has been one of the Reds' best performers in a beaten side this year, while Cane was immense during his side's win over the Crusaders last Friday.

Metres gained
Bulls back Jesse Kriel has the ability to play a range of positions in the backline and he has helped himself to a league-leading 877 metres on attack this season. That man Folau is next in this category too with 829.

Breaks
Highlanders wing Waisake Naholo has reinvented himself in the deep south and has made 15 breaks this season. He's an elusive runner with genuine pace.

Penalties conceded
Blues prop Charlie Faumuina and Cheetahs front-rower Coenie Oosthuizen have both given away 14 penalties each in 2015, the most in the competition.

Kicking
Cheetahs back Joe Pietersen has kicked the ball the most out of the hand this year with 125 punts.

One last thing
Waratahs lock Will Skelton is about as big as they come on a rugby field and he was damaging as the defending champions upset the Hurricanes 29-24 in the capital during the weekend. Hurricanes skipper Conrad Smith said the second-rower, listed at 2.03m and 140kg, was a powerful ball-carrier. "He's a big beast."