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 Stormers in this season’s competition.
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 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 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.
#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 20, 2022
It is, however, coach Jake White’s Bulls who have scored the most tries among the South African teams. The Bulls have 61, with the Sharks (57) and the Stormers (56) completing the South African presence in the top five.
Ireland’s tournament favourites, Leinster, are the leading try scorers with 69.
The Stormers, 341, and the Bulls, 298, are second and fifth as teams with the most defenders beaten. Edinburgh Rugby, with 382, tops the list.
MORE: Stormers soar as South Africa’s top team
The Sharks, Bulls and 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.
