Leicester Tigers trio Sione Kalamafoni, Jonny May and Jonah Holmes have featured prominently in the OPTA Rankings from Round 12 of this season's Gallagher Premiership following their performances in the bonus point victory over Gloucester at Welford Road.
Kalamafoni's chart topping effort in defence of 23 tackles took the Tonga No.8 to second on the overall standings for the season to date with 183, just five behind Sale's Jonathan Ross on 188. Kalamafoni was equal top of the competition's and Tigers tally for tackles in Round 12 with Mike Fitzgerald, who made the move to lock after spending December at blind-side flanker for Leicester.
Kalamafoni, the hard-working Tigers No.8, also added to his lead in carries for the 2018/19 Premiership season and sits atop the tally with 183, just short of 40 more than the second placed Alex Goode of Saracens.
Fellow former Gloucester player Jonny May, who scored twice in the victory, topped the OPTA Rankings for metres made across the competition with 126 including 6 clean breaks.
#ThatWasFun #Tigers pic.twitter.com/JOHtALbQwp
— Jonny May (@J0nnyMay) January 5, 2019
May's 5 defenders beaten, combined with fellow outside backs Holmes and Jordan Olowofela reached a total of 16 between the trio in 80 minutes.
Holmes' 13 carries was only bettered by Kalamafoni's 14 and combined with his 107 metres made and 2 clean breaks, as well as a try, made for a successful return to the fullback position for the Wales international.
Dan Cole, who played what both pundits and Tigers supporters agreed was the experienced front-rower's standout performance of the 2018/19 season, also made an impressive 17 tackles in just over an hour on the pitch and made 2 turnovers.
Statistics are supplied by OPTA.