It’s close to being the rugby equivalent of jumping beyond the long-jump pit.
Or something like that.
Before last weekend, no-one had made more than 26 carries in a single United Rugby Championship game. But that situation has changed.
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In the space of 80 minutes for the Scarlets against Cardiff, Sione Kalamafoni made a mind-boggling 31 runs with the ball. Reverting to the long jump analogy, this wasn’t a case of improving matters by a fraction of an inch. It was akin to soaring over the sand, beyond the track and clean over the burger van. You can read more here about the former church missionary who turned out to one of Welsh rugby's great overseas signings.
Noting the performance and describing it as "monumental", the BKT’s United Rugby Championship Statmaster Insight's pack referred to the Tongan No. 8 as “monstrous”.
On social media, one poster, Mark Thomas, tweeted: “Staggering total!!! And still not man of match. Sione up there with the legend Scott Quinnell as Scarlets greatest number 8s. Never seen such a relentless carrier over 80minutes, week in week out.”
While Kalamafoni did his stuff with ball in hand, there was another record-breaking performance from a regional player in defence.
Rhys Davies made 29 tackles for the Ospreys in their 47-17 defeat by Ulster in Belfast.
His was an immensely brave effort in trying to turn back wave after wave of home attacks at the Kingspan Stadium. “He stood up in adversity from a physical point of view and a collision point of view, which is awesome,” said his head coach Toby Booth.
Again, it was a URC best.
The young Welshman himself had made 28 hits in one match last season, coincidentally against Ulster. One of his tackles last weekend saw him help to head off a home try by getting underneath a ball carrier over the line.
Without him, the Ospreys would doubtless have succumbed to an even bigger defeat. Booth revealed last week that Wales were aware of the uncapped 23-year-old’s potential. They should be even more aware of it now.
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