Bulls pivot Goosen scoops URC's Golden Boot accolade

Bulls flyhalf Johan Goosen has won the 2022/23 URC Gilbert Golden Boot accolade.

This prize recognises the season's most accurate place-kicker, with all kickers who have attempted a minimum of 30 ranked by their success percentage.

Goosen, 30, finished with a 90% success rate, having slotted 36 out of 40 kicks at goal.

The 13-capped Springbok saw his 2021/22 season cut short by a knee injury and he missed half of the current campaign due to a shoulder surgery.

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Goosen converted 10 of the Bulls' 11 tries in their 78-12 Round 17 victory over Zebre to equal the record number set by Duncan Weir for Glasgow Warriors in 2016.

His Bulls team-mate, Chris Smith, was just behind on 89.09% while Ospreys' Gareth Anscombe, last season's winner, had a 100% success rate from his 10 kicks but he wasn't eligible this time.

The winner of the 22/23 @Gilbert_Rugby Golden Boot Award goes to… @BlueBullsRugby’s Johan Goosen ????4??0?? Attempts3??6?? Successful9??0??% Accuracy#URC | #URCAwards #GilbertGoldenBoot

Bulls captain Ruan Nortje heaped praise on Goosen.

"For a guy like 'Goose' to win this award having struggled with a few injuries and enduring a pretty tough time is pretty special for all of us. I just want to congratulate him on this recognition, which is not a surprise to us because we have seen the amount of work that he has put on, even during those times when he has had to reset.

"We are really blessed to have great placekickers in our club, they give us that extra confidence because we know we can trust them to give us the added points on the board.

"I hope that the Vodacom Bulls family will be inspired to push on no matter what because great things are