Best Try Assist: Can Cronje dethrone Leyds?

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Can Lionel Cronje’s moment of magic dethrone Dillyn Leyds from the king seat for delivering the greatest-ever try assist?

Two-time defending champion Leyds has seen off both Lukhanyo Am and Carlos Spencer to keep his status as king of the try assist. Last week, Leyds claimed 93% of the vote against Spencer’s through-the-legs pass for the All Blacks against the Springboks at the 2003 World Cup. Now Leyds is challenged by a player famous for his ingenuity in Cronje.

In a 2017 Super Rugby match between the Western Force and Southern Kings in Perth, Cronje showed some Carlos Spencer-esque skill after dummying the ball by swinging it around his body before putting in a grubber for fullback Malcolm Jaer to pick up and dot down. The 11-try thriller would end 46-41 in the Force’s favour.

Playing for the Stormers in a Super Rugby match against the Chiefs in 2017, Leyds pulled off a magnificent pass to set fullback SP Marais on his way to the tryline. With the Stormers 27-21 ahead in the second half, Cheslin Kolbe intercepted a pass and toed the ball. Leyds was quickest to gather the ball, but brought down by an ankle tap. However, he still managed to get the pass off to Marais from the ground in a moment of magic.

This poll has ended (since 2 years).

Pick the best try assist!

Dillyn Leyds
68.20%
Lionel Cronje
31.80%

Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images

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Dylan Jack