The Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions get reacquainted when the SA sides do battle in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park on Friday.
STATE OF THE URC: All aboard the SA Express!
Overall URC head-to-head record: Played 2, Sharks won 2.
When they last met:
Did you know?
– The Sharks have lost four of their last six league matches but won six from seven at home.
– The Lions have won their last four away matches in the URC.
– Sharks hooker Dan Jooste is yet to miss his target with his lineout throwing, having thrown 18 successful throws and missing none.
– The Sharks are ranked second in the league for their rate of gain-line success(58.59%). They are 0.31% away from the Bulls who sit in poll position.
– The Sharks have scored more tries from possessions which begin with scrums than any other team in the league (five).
– Working together to control the game, Lions flyhalf Jordan Hendrikse (546) and fullback/wing Quan Horn (505) were the two players who made the most kicking metres in Round 9.
– For a player who has made more than 50 carries so far this season, Lions centre Marius Louw has the highest rate of gain-line success in the league: he has crossed the gain line with 42 of his 57 carries (74%). However, he has also dropped the ball unforced more than any other player (10).
– Taking the risk of throwing over the line, PJ Botha and Jaco Visagie have both thrown more lineout throws that have travelled more than 15 metres than any other player in the league (eight and four).
STATE OF THE EURO CUPS: Highs and lows for SA teams
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
