Eight South African players who have shone in the URC this season

Individual brilliance does not always fuel a team’s success in a tournament.

The Bulls are well aware of that, being South Africa’s most consistent franchise in the league phase of the United Rugby Championship despite only having a few players excelling statistically.

Their team effort has been the difference in their URC campaign, while Lions players, for instance, have featured widely on the charts though their team failed to secure a quarter-final position.

Here are eight South African players who have shone so far this URC season.

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers)

Without doubt South Africa’s most in-form flyhalf and probably the nation’s most in-form player, Feinberg-Mngomezulu has raced up to fifth place among the list of individual points scorers, despite missing nine matches due to different injuries.

He’s been instrumental in the Stormers leaping from 12th to fifth on the URC log since March, securing 78 of his 90 total points in just the last five games.

In a star-studded backline, Feinberg-Mngomezulu stands out with good goal-kicking (72% success), inspired cross-kicks and plays, and impossible offloads. The Stormers can thank him for reaching the quarter-finals.

Leolin Zas (Stormers)

Despite not being included in either of the first two Springbok alignment camps this year, Zas is enjoying some of his best form.

The 29-year-old winger has scored nine tries in 14 URC matches, equalling the season record (thus far) with Cardiff’s Harri Millard and Munster’s Tom Farrell. He’s also had the second-most clean breaks with 22.

Zas has equalled his season’s best after also getting nine scores for the Stormers in 2021/22. And he would probably have more if he hadn’t missed four URC games and had played more than just one EPCR match. But maybe he can break his personal record in the quarter-final against Glasgow.

André Esterhuizen (Sharks)

While his vice-captain Siya Kolisi has more tries (seven), Esterhuizen’s impact at the Sharks has been a revelation since his return from injury.

The Springbok centre has notched five tries, has beaten the fourth-most defenders (55) and has the seventh most successful carries (77) despite missing four matches.

He is solid in defence as well, demonstrated by his try-saving tackle and winning the most turnovers in the game against Edinburgh.

Edwill van der Merwe (Lions)

Enigmatic winger Van der Merwe has kept the Lions alive in many a game with his eight tries (one behind the leading scorer) and 20 clean breaks (three off the top).

However, he will not be able to add to that tally after the Lions failed to reach the quarter-finals.

The Johannesburg team will miss his individual brilliance when he heads to the Sharks next season.

Marnus van der Merwe (Scarlets)

The 28-year-old hooker’s inclusion in the second Springbok alignment camp this year raised eyebrows but many have not been aware of the season he’s had for Scarlets.

Van der Merwe has won the most lineouts in the competition (141), has won the third-most turnovers (18) and made 153 tackles.

He’s played in every URC match for the Welsh side, and his impact in the set-piece and breakdown has been telling throughout.

Jordan Hendrikse (Sharks)

Almost always playing the full 80 minutes, Hendrikse is the competition’s third-highest points scorer with 118. He’s only six points behind the leader, Ioan Lloyd, despite missing two matches and featuring in some low-scoring games.

The Sharks have had some close scrapes this season, and Hendrikse’s accuracy at posts (75%) has been the difference on a few occasions. He rarely has a bad game and can back his goal-kicking with good running and an eye for the gap (37 defenders beaten). He has also secured two tries.

Keagan Johannes/David Kriel (Bulls)

David Kriel and Keagan Johannes have come in as a pair package due to their versatility and stepping up for the Bulls together when choice goal-kicker Johan Goosen has been injured.

Kriel is the season’s seventh-highest points scorer (80 points), the centre/winger turning in six tries to go with his 21 successful kicks.

Johannes’s 73% goal-kicking success rate is excellent for the team’s third-choice kicker. He will add to his tally of 48 points before Goosen returns.