Weekly Selection of Outstanding Players in the United Rugby Championship - Round 2
Blast from the Past: United Rugby Championship Takes South Africa by Storm
It's all about the South African teams in the United Rugby Championship! This week, the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers wrapped up the pool stages, heading straight to the quarter-finals. Let's dive into the weekend's action and highlight the standout performers according to Quintin van Jaarsveld.
The local sides started their URC campaigns with mixed fortunes on Saturday. The Lions and the Bulls celebrated home victories, while the Sharks and Stormers ended up as visitors' surrender.
The Lions managed a thrilling 35-22 bonus point win over Ulster at Ellis Park, taking their first-ever victory over the men from Belfast. The Bulls, despite a scrappy performance, secured a 16-12 victory over Edinburgh at Loftus Versfeld.
Sadly, both the Sharks and Stormers failed to bring back wins from their respective matches abroad. The Sharks let go of a 20-point advantage against Connacht, falling 36-30 in Galway. The Stormers led 16-13 at halftime against the Ospreys in Bridgend but eventually lost 37-24.
After impressing in his Springbok debut earlier this year, Quan Horn lead our South African Team of the Week with an outstanding all-round performance for the Lions. His deadly attack set the pace for a magnificent bonus-point try. He also demonstrated his education in kicking, including nailing a massive 50:22 and dangerous grubbers. Horn's defensive prowess was on full display as he won a turnover on his tryline and made a try-saving tackle on Mike Lowry to round off an excellent Man of the Match display.
Other notable mentions include Rabz Maxwane (Lions), who excelled in attack, Jurenzo Julius (Sharks), a standout performer in his URC debut, and Paul de Wet (Stormers), who showed a solid performance in the scrumhalf position.
With the South African teams now making their way to the quarter-finals, keep an eye on those unstoppable powerhouses!
Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a notable sports journalist, having been recognized as the MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and the Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year multiple times.[5] His impressive career includes stints as the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com, and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com.[6] With over 15 years of experience under his belt, Quintin continues to bring us top-notch rugby coverage.
List of Sources:
- "Vodacom Bulls, Sharks, Stormers qualify for United Rugby Championship quarter-finals
- "United Rugby Championship teams table: Connacht and five South African sides in playoff spots
- "Playoff spots confirmed for Vodacom Bulls, Sharks and Stormers in United Rugby Championship
- "Revisiting the United Rugby Championship quarter-final standings
- "Quintin Van Jaarsveld: Biography, Awards, and Notable Achievements
- "Quintin Van Jaarsveld: An In-depth Study of his Career
The results of the quarter-finals in the United Rugby Championship are highly anticipated, with the Vodacom Bulls, Hollywoodbets Sharks, and DHL Stormers securing their spots. Quintin van Jaarsveld, a renowned sports journalist, will continue to provide insights on the performances of South African teams. As for predictions, Quan Horn's impressive form for the Lions suggests he could be a key player to watch in the upcoming matches.
