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Bloemfontein – South African Super 14 teams are not kicking well enough at posts and this may well come back to haunt them.

That is the view of former Springbok fly-half Braam van Straaten on the latest place-kicking statistics from the Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs, Stormers and Lions.

Van Straaten believes that “anything above 85%” is a good success ratio, but none of the teams are approaching that after eight rounds.

“Joe Pietersen’s (Stormers) average of 75% is not good enough. Even that of Morné Steyn (Bulls) and the others are too low. It can be higher,” said Van Straaten.

Ruggastats.co.za has the Bulls as South Africa’s leading place-kicking side with a success ratio of 82.45%. The Sharks (82%), Cheetahs (79%), Stormers (76%) and the Lions (63%) follow in the pecking order.

The Stormers, who are currently fourth on the log, are strong contenders for the Super 14 title, but Van Straaten believes they will have to kick the ball through the posts more often.

“It can trip up the Stormers. If you want to win games overseas it’s important that you get points on the scoreboard,” said Van Straaten.

The Stormers will be relieved and delighted after fly-half Peter Grant managed a 100% success ratio against the Western Force.

Even Springbok fly-half Steyn is struggling a little. His average is 82.1%, which is less than the Sharks’ Ruan Pienaar (83.3%). Steyn succeeded with only 55% of his kicks against the Force and 60% against the Blues.

Van Straaten believes Steyn will be able to improve because the Bulls are South Africa’s only team with a recognised kicking coach in Vlok Cilliers.

He says Steyn makes small errors and someone like Cilliers is required to point them out.

“There is definitely a future for kicking coaches, particularly because it is such a specialised department,” said Van Straaten.

“It’s important to have someone looking at your kicking. You may think you are doing something right, but may not be striking the ball correctly. I struggled for three months in my career because I was too close to the ball.”

Van Straaten believes Pienaar’s good kicking may have something to do with the fact that he is playing scrumhalf.

“Ruan is more comfortable at scrumhalf and you can see that he has more confidence. His form is better and it’s as if he has more time.”