Numbers that matter: Ospreys vs Stormers

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The DHL Stormers will look to extend their 14-match hot streak in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship when they travel to Swansea to face Ospreys on Friday.

Overall URC head-to-head record: Played 1, Stormers won 1.

When they last met:

Ospreys

  • The Ospreys have been excellent at retaining possession at the ruck, clearing out opposition players and recycling the ball at 97% of these breakdowns
  • The Swansea-based side gave away only three penalties at the weekend – the lowest total of the round
  • Against Ulster in round four, Ospreys lock Rhys Davies made a tireless 29 tackles. This is the highest number in a match so far this season and more than any player made in a match in the entirety of last season. Funnily though, the best tackling performance in Vodacom URC 1 was also Davies against Ulster, when he made 28 tackles

DHL Stormers

  • The DHL Stormers have made the fewest metres in contact of any team in the league, only making an average of 46.3 per match. They are joined in the bottom two for this metric by fellow Vodacom URC big dogs, Leinster
  • The Stormers are yet to lose a match this season. However, rather surprisingly they have made the fewest number of carries (214), tackles (374), and turnovers (10) in the Vodacom URC so far this season
  • Happy to play the game without the ball, the Stormers put their money where their mouth is in defence. They have the highest rate of dominant tackles in the league, smashing opponents with big collisions in 10% of their tackles

Did you know?

• Ospreys have won just one of their past five URC fixtures: 32-17 at home to Glasgow Warriors on 1 October.

• Since the start of last season, Ospreys have suffered only three home defeats in the Championship and all were by South African opponents.

• Ospreys have not beaten an SA side since their victory over Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth in April 2019.

• The Stormers have won their past fourteen URC matches since their 17-19 loss to Connacht in Galway in February.

• The Stormers have won all four previous matches they have played against Welsh regions.

• The two sides have met just once before, in Cape Town in April, with the home side running out 29-13 victors.

Photo: © Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix

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Dylan Jack