Weekly South African URC Squad Highlights – 16th Round
Rewritten Article
In a pulsating round of the United Rugby Championship, local teams dominated with the Bulls and Sharks maintaining top-four positions, the Stormers climbing to sixth, and the 13th-placed Lions ending a dismal five-match losing streak.
The Bulls secured a hard-fought 26-19 victory over defending champions Glasgow Warriors in Scotland, while the Sharks staged an epic comeback from a 19-0 deficit to win 22-19 against Ulster in Belfast.
Meanwhile, in South Africa, the Stormers brutalized Benetton Treviso with a staggering 56-5 win in Cape Town, and the Lions quickened their pace with a 36-7 victory over Connacht at Ellis Park.
Following their impressive performances, six Stormers players made it to our Team of the Week, as did three players from the Bulls, Sharks, and Lions each.
15: Warrick Gelant (Stormers)
A versatile player who showed off his boot skills, unearthing a clever grubber for Leolin Zas to chase, almost kicking a 22-22 tie, masterful touch on offense, making two vital tackles back-to-back, and swiftly defusing a dangerous grubber.
14: Ethan Hooker (Sharks)
poised for Springbok selection. A force on every carry with his combination of size and speed, ending the match as the team's top meter-gainer with 75m, surpassing Canan Moodie's strong defensive effort for the Bulls.
13: Dan du Plessis (Stormers)
Displaying increasing form. Scored a try and made a good defensive read to intercept, leading to Seabelo Senatla's score.
12: Andre Esterhuizen (Sharks)
A relentless powerhouse in the midfield. Led the charge for the Durbanites with nine successful carries, consistently putting them on the offensive.
11: Edwill van der Merwe (Lions)
A class act all game. Showed remarkable persistence in chasing down kick-offs, shone in the air, and posed a threat on offense. Spurred on by an earlier try being disallowed, he finally scored his well-deserved five-pointer in the final play of the game.
10: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)
Kicked off the night with a try assist for Sazi Sandi, a conversion, a penalty goal, a drop goal, and a breathtaking try assist for Dan du Plessis. Continued to control the game and ended with a well-deserved try to seal a 26-point haul, showcasing her extraordinary talent.
9: Morne van den Berg (Lions)
The Lions' energetic playmaker bewildered Connacht throughout the match, whether with precise ball distribution, darting runs, or clever chip kicks. Displayed accurate box kicking before limping off the pitch.
8: Evan Roos (Stormers)
A tireless performer in both attack and defense, delivering a try assist for Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
7: Renzo du Plessis (Lions)
A restrained beast released to wreak havoc. Showed remarkable finesse with the ball in hand, scoring the first try, making a solid tackle, and crashing into rucks with unyielding force. However, a yellow card slightly marred an otherwise outstanding Man of the Match performance.
6: Paul de Villiers (Stormers)
Played a dominant role in the Stormers' success, scoring his first-ever try for the Capetonians and excelling at the breakdown. Made an impressive jackal in the Stormers 22 just two minutes before halftime and secured another steal in the 68th minute to clinch the Man of the Match award.
5: Jason Jenkins (Sharks)
A physical presence who stepped up when needed. Set the rhythm for Makazole Mapimpi's try, which sparked the Sharks' comeback, and contributed to Jurenzo Julius' score.
4: Cobus Wiese (Bulls)
Struck fear into the Warriors with his powerful runs and relentless energy, making a Bulls-best eight successful carries.
3: Wilco Louw (Bulls)
Overpowered the Warriors' pack with strong performances in the scrums and won four crucial penalties in the set piece. Despite conceding a yellow card, his contributions were invaluable.
2: Andre-Hugo Venter (Stormers)
Energetic and involved in numerous attacking sets, including a thrilling run that set up Stefan Ungerer's near-try. Showcased excellent fundamentals throughout the match.
1: Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls) - Player of the Week
Delivered a standout performance for the ages. Excellent in the scrums, crafty with his grubber kick, and delivered a defensive masterclass, including an awe-inspiring try-saving tackle against Sebastian Cancelliere.
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Note: While data is available on the standings, specific team rankings and scorelines are not provided due to the demand for brevity. Nonetheless, the Stormers, Bulls, and Sharks are all playoff contenders, with the Lions changing their fortunes to move up some spots in the rankings.
source: Uncredited
- Warrick Gelant's versatility in rugby was showcased once again in the United Rugby Championship, as he demonstrated exceptional kick skills, made vital tackles, and defused dangerous situations for the successful Stormers team.
- Ethan Hooker had a standout performance for the Sharks, impressing with his size, speed, and strong carries, which earned him the title of top meter-gainer for his team in their match against Ulster.
- Dan du Plessis displayed increasing form for the Stormers, scoring a try, making a good defensive read, and contributing to their dominant victory over Benetton Treviso with his strong offensive play.
- Following their impressive performances in the United Rugby Championship, Gelant, Du Plessis, and six other Stormers players, along with three players each from the Bulls, Sharks, and Lions, made it to the Team of the Week, highlighting the success of the sports teams from South Africa in the competition.
