For much of the last RaboDirect PRO12 season eventual winner Johnny Sexton and Ronan O’Gara slugged it out at the top of Rhino Golden Boot Award table for the best goal kicker.
This year after four rounds there is a familiar feel to the competition with an early lead being taken by Ian Keatley of Munster with an impressive 93.33% including a hot steak of his last 14 kicks with the Rhino Vortex Elite international match ball, followed by Ian Madigan of Leinster with 86.67%. In third place is the consistent Luciano Orquera, now with the newly formed Zebre club in Italy, with 81.82%. Orquera established a record for the competition of 9 out of 9 in the derby match between Aironi and Treviso last year.
“I was delighted to score 9 out of 9 penalty kicks during the derby game against Treviso before Christmas because it meant achieving an important win. I only found out the day after the game that I had made a new kicking record in the PRO12. The new Rhino Vortex allowed me to be at my best, even in poor weather conditions. It is a pleasure to kick”.
Luciano Orquera |