The DHL Stormers will look to get back to winning ways and secure a home playoff in the final-round Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against Benetton in Stellenbosch on Friday.
Overall URC head-to-head record: Played one, Benetton won one.
When they last met:
Stormers
– Manie Libbok leads the rest of the league by 34 points in terms of points scored. For a player who has attempted more than 40 shots at goal, he has the best success rate off the tee (75%)
– Libbok and halfback partner Paul de Wet are also top of the league for try assists, having made 10 and nine respectively
– Hacjivah Dayimani has made more metres as a support carrier than any other player (117). For a forward with more than five appearances this season, his average of 0.97 clean breaks per 80 minutes is the best in the Vodacom URC.
TEAMS: Roos starts for overhauled Stormers
Benetton
– Nacho Brex made another two try assists in Round 17, taking his season total to seven – the most for a player who plays neither 9 or 10
–Both Dewaldt Duvenage and Rhyno Smith made three kicks that were retained last weekend – no player managed more
–Benetton have set up the joint-fewest mauls in the Vodacom URC (83) and have consequently made a league-low 164 maul metres. However, they have scored four tries from their maul – more than five Vodacom URC teams
Did You Know?
When these sides met for the first time last season, Benetton defeated the Stormers 22-18 in Treviso.
The Stormers loss to Munster last weekend ended their 18-match winning streak at home in the league. It was their first loss in over 14 months in Cape Town.
Benetton have won just two away matches this season, to Zebre Parma and Ospreys.
Photo: BackpagePix