The first half of the Top 14 2024-2025 has delivered its verdict. In the heart of the race for the top six places, some teams are doing better than others. Behind the big names, Toulouse and UBB among others, Aviron Bayonnais impresses. One of the main architects of this success is the Fijian Sireli Maqala, a true tightrope walker on the pitch.
In the Basque Country, the second center is a treat. First of all, he is at the top of the ranking of the best try scorers in the Top 14. According to official NRL statistics, the Fijian international peaks at 10 goals in 11 matches mid-season.
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Maqala takes care of her stats
Unsurprisingly, Sireli Maqala then tops another offensive statistic. So, he is the player who has broken the most tackles this season. With his speed and power, the 24-year-old three-quarter broke no fewer than 47 hugs, or nearly 4.3 per encounter on average.
Additionally, he also ranks well in other offensive rankings. For example, it is the second player to have covered the most meters with the ball in hand (911 m). Only the Georgian from LOU Rugby, Davit Niniashvili, is ahead of him (1014 m).
Finally, Sireli Maqala stands out in a final category as an attacker. Behind Ange Capuozzo and Salesi Rayasi, he is the third player with the most crossings (11) since the start of the season. The Toulousain and the Vannetais have respectively made 15 and 12 breakthroughs into the opposing defensive curtain in the Top 14 this season.
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But beyond his offensive performances, the Aviron Bayonnais player also stands out for his impressive defensive performances. The proof is, Sireli Maqala is the second best scratcher in the Top 14. He has won a ground contest 7 times this season. Only Stade Toulousain flanker Jack Willis has done better this season with 12 ball recoveries in this area.
Arriving at Aviron Bayonnais in 2021, Sireli Maqala is having the best start to the season of his career in the Top 14. In this exercise, his association at center with former England international Manu Tuilagi is wreaking havoc. Between power, defensive solidity, technique and explosiveness, the Basque club perhaps has the best pair of centers in France.
TOP 14. Sireli Maqala: the Fijdian detonator that delights the Basque coast
