Lethal Libbok’s boot makes its mark – all the URC stats

DHL Stormers goalkicking ace Manie Libbok is the favourite to finish the league stages of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship as the top points scorer.

Libbok’s 142 competition points is 18 clear of South African compatriot, the Cell C Sharks’ Curwin Bosch, and a decent night off the kicking tee for Libbok against the Scarlets should ensure a first individual title for the DHL Stormers in this season’s competition.

DHL Stormers winger Leonlin Zas can also take the individual honours as the leading try-scorer, although teammate and fellow winger Seabelo Senatla is just one try behind Zas.

The DHL Stormers wing duo have scored 10 and 9 tries respectively, with South Africans dominant in the try-scoring department.

The Vodacom Bulls captain Marcell Coetzee has nine, his teammate Joha Grobbelaar has eight, along with South African Rhyno Smith, who plays for Benetton.

Individual honours will mean nothing for the likes of Libbok, Zas and Senatla if the collective goal of a DHL Stormers final round win isn’t achieved, but the Cape-based outfit arrived in Wales on a hot streak and unbeaten in their last seven matches.

It is, however, coach Jake White’s Vodacom Bulls who have scored the most tries among the South African teams. The Vodacom Bulls have 61, with the Cell C Sharks (57) and the DHL Stormers (56) completing the South African presence in the top five.

Ireland’s tournament favourites, Leinster, are the leading try scorers with 69.

The DHL Stormers, 341, and the Vodacom Bulls, 298, are second and fifth as teams with the most defenders beaten. Edinburgh Rugby, with 382, tops the list.

The Cell C Sharks, Vodacom Bulls and DHL Stormers have all qualified for the final eight play-offs, and this weekend will determine who will finish second, third and fourth and host the quarter-final.

Leinster, who top the table, cannot be overhauled and are the only team guaranteed hosting the first series of play-off matches.

#Watch – @Zels77 and @mark_keohane are full of confidence that @THESTORMERS will come away with a win against @scarlets_rugby on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/gVc4rOy8n4

— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) May 19, 2022

Watch: Why we back the Stormers for playoff glory

Statistics, courtesy of Vodacom United Rugby Championship 

Stats and fast facts

Top Try Scorers:

1. Leolin Zas – DHL Stormers – 10
2. Marcell Coetzee – Vodacom Bulls – 9 & Seabelo Senatla – DHL Stormers – 9
3. Johan Grobbelaar – Vodacom Bulls – 8, Johnny McNicholl – Scarlets – 8 & Rhyno Smith – Benetton – 8

Top Point Scorers:

1. Manie Libbok – DHL Stormers – 142
2. Curwin Bosch – Cell C Sharks – 124
3. Nathan Doak – Ulster – 116
4. Jack Carty – Connacht – 114
5. Rhyno Smith – Benetton – 113

Best URC Kickers (minimum 30 attempts):

1. Gareth Anscombe – Ospreys – 92.7%
2. Stephen Myler – Ospreys – 92.6%
3. Rhyno Smith – Benetton – 88.6%
4. Morne Steyn – Vodacom Bulls – 87.1%
5. Ross Thompson – Glasgow Warriors – 86.4%

Team With The Most Tries:

1. Leinster – 69
2. Scarlets – 63 & Munster – 63
3. Vodacom Bulls – 61
4. Cell C Sharks – 57
5. DHL Stormers – 56

Team With The Most Carries:

1. Leinster – 2,222
2. Ulster – 2,113
3. Edinburgh – 2,050
4. Glasgow Warriors – 1,968
5. Connacht – 1,954

Team With The Most Defenders Beaten:

1. Edinburgh – 382
2. DHL Stormers – 341
3. Leinster – 337
4. Ulster – 313
5. Vodacom Bulls – 298

Did You Know – North v South:

Ulster v Cell C Sharks:

• Ulster have only lost once at home in the URC this season
• Ulster have won their last 5 home games against South African opposition in the URC
• Cell C Sharks have won their last 4 URC matches
• Cell C Sharks have won their last 2 fixtures against Irish opponents but they have lost their only previous away game to an Irish province
  • Top try scorers:
    • Ulster – Nick Timoney = 6
    • Cell C Sharks – Makazole Mapimpi & Bongi Mbonambi = 8

 

Ospreys v Vodacom Bulls:

• Ospreys have won their last 3 URC matches but haven’t won 4 in a row for over a year
• Ospreys have only lost once at home this season in the URC and it was against South African opposition
• Vodacom Bulls have lost only 1 of their last 8 URC fixtures
• Vodacom Bulls have won all 3 matches against Welsh regions this season
  • Top try scorers:
    • Ospreys – Rhys Webb = 7
    • Vodacom Bulls – Marcell Coetzee = 9

 

Dragons v Emirates Lions:

• Dragons haven’t won at home in the URC this season
• Emirates Lions have won only twice away from home in the URC this season
• Emirates Lions’ record against Welsh regions this season is W2 and L1, with all games being won by the home side on the day
  • Top try scorers:
    • Dragons – Jared Rosser & Mesake Doge = 4
    • Emirates Lions – Morne van den Berg & Edwill van der Merwe = 7

 

Scarlets v DHL Stormers:

• Scarlets have lost their last 2 matches against South African opponents (both away from home), but they did beat Emirates Lions at home
• DHL Stormers have won their last 7 URC matches
• DHL Stormers have won all 3 previous matches they have played against Welsh opposition
  • Top try scorers:
    • Scarlets – Johnny McNicholl = 8
    • DHL Stormers – Leolin Zas = 10