The Vodacom URC returns this week with all 16 teams having played the first nine of their 18 regular season matches. How have the four sides from the Republic fared so far?
Vodacom Bulls (4th)
Leading the South African challenge, the team from Pretoria have been lethal in attack, scoring the most tries (40) and the most points (294), with hooker Akker van der Merwe touching down six times.
They have picked up two league wins in Europe – away to Zebre and Cardiff – which no other side from South Africa has achieved this term.
Plus they have recorded two of the biggest attendances, with 24,515 and 26,632 for derbies at Loftus Versfeld.
Best performance: They ran in seven tries during a 53-27 romp against Connacht in late November.
Star man: Elrigh Louw
Breakthrough player: Cameron Hanekom
DHL Stormers (7th)
Finalists in their first two years in the URC, the Cape Town collective have a lot to live up to and they have found it difficult at times this season.
They lost four successive games on tour in Europe during the autumn, with damaging defeats away to Glasgow, Benetton, Munster and Cardiff.
But, since then, they have won six out of seven matches in all competitions, while five of their remaining nine league fixtures are at home, where they are so tough to beat.
Best performance: A crowd of 39,925 watched them claim the prize scalp of the Bulls just before Christmas, with Manie Libbok kicking them to a 26-20 win.
Star man: Hacjivah Dayimani
Breakthrough player: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu
STATE OF THE URC: SA rivals reload for red-hot derbies
Lions (10th)
The team from Johannesburg are good to watch, with playmaker Sanele Nohamba a real side-stepping box of tricks.
Centre Marius Louw is a highly effective presence in the centre, making the second most successful carries in the URC.
Remarkably, the Lions have received just one yellow card in their nine league games, although there has also been one red. They have had plenty of tight games along the way this term.
Best performance: The 20-18 away win over the Sharks in Durban early in January.
Star man: Marius Louw
Breakthrough player: Sanele Nohamba
Sharks (16th)
This is where the stats get a bit weird.
The Sharks are bottom of the table, with just one win, but they have gained more metres (3707) than any other side, with fullback Aphelele Fassi having run for 675 of those to lead the way in the competition, They are also top of the charts in terms of lineout efficiency.
Where they have really struggled is with their discipline, conceding the most penalties (102).
Finishing the Challenge Cup group stage as top seeds has provided hope for the rest of the season for John Plumtree’s charges.
Best performance: Has to be the solitary win really and it was some win, as they racked up ten tries in a 69-14 rout of the Dragons.
Star man: Aphelele Fassi
Breakthrough player: Jeandre Labuschagne
Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix