A commanding victory over the Lions ushered in the new year for the DHL Stormers, but can they keep the momentum going in 2023 to make it back-to-back Vodacom United Rugby Championship titles?

The Stormers, Vodacom Bulls and Sharks find themselves occupying three of the top five spots on the URC log, with the team from the Cape looking the most likely of the South African contingent to go all the way.

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Leinster, arguably the team to beat, occupy first spot with a perfect record in the 22/23 campaign – 10 wins out of 10. They were the favourites last year, but a surprise upset courtesy of the Bulls cut their campaign short, and they’ll be looking to make amends this time round.

Last season’s winners, the Stormers, currently occupy second spot with eight wins out of 10 games, but have played their best rugby in their last two outings against the Bulls and Lions, displaying the style of rugby that won them their first major title.

Ulster sit in third with seven wins out of 10, and despite coming off a recent, narrow loss to Munster, they are growing in strength and will no doubt make the playoffs again.

The Bulls, currently fourth, will have to repeat the resurgence that saw them power into last season’s final. Painful defeats at the hands of the Stormers and Sharks will no doubt have dampened Jake White’s silverware aspirations, but if their previous semi-final to Leinster is anything to go by, a playoff berth may be all that’s needed.

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The Sharks, in fifth with six wins out of nine, look a completely different outfit when bolstered by their Boks, and a well-rounded victory over the Bulls in their last encounter showcased the capabilities of their full-strength team.

Glasgow Warriors are in sixth with 6 wins from 10 matches and currently level with the Sharks on 29 points, but the Scots have won three on the trot.

Lingering lower down the table but not yet out of the fight, the Lions started their campaign with a bang but they may still be the surprise package of the South African teams. The Lions occupy 11th spot as it stands, with five wins in 10 matches, and they will have to be flawless down the straight to reach the playoffs.

Photo: Twitter/@THESTORMERS