DHL
Stormers goalkicking ace Manie Libbok is the favourite to finish the league
stages of the 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.
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