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We’re now FIVE rounds into the 2024/25 season and results so far have made it very clear – EVERY GAME COUNTS in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

Just two teams remain unbeaten in the championship so far this season and they’re set to lock horns this weekend with Leinster Rugby set to host the Emirates Lions.

There are only FIVE points separating 4th and 13th in the table, once again showcasing the competition in the URC.

What will we see in Round 6? Let’s take a look at what’s to come.

Benetton v Vodacom Bulls

Benetton

– Malakai Fekitoa won three turnovers (1st) in Round 5. Teammate Manuel Zuliani also won two (joint-second), despite playing just 28 minutes.

– Benetton made the most retained kicks (six) in Round 5. Andy Uren and Alessandro Garbisi made three apiece (joint-first).

– Benetton scored the most points per 22m entry (3.5) in Round 5; 50% of their visits resulted in a try (1st).

Vodacom Bulls

– The Bulls had the best ruck retention rate (98.9%) in Round 5 and had the second-most rucks in the opposition 22m (32).

– The Bulls have averaged the second-most metres (3.76) and post-contact metres per carry (0.93) so far this season. They have also had the second-highest gainline success rate (44.6%).

– The Bulls have scored an average of 4.25 tries per 80 minutes (3rd) so far this season. They have also averaged 5.75 initial breaks per 80 minutes (4th), of which, 61% led to a try in the same possession (1st).

Scarlets v Zebre Parma

Scarlets

– Scarlets made the second-most kicks in play (37) in Round 5 – four were retained. 66% of their possessions ended in a kick (1st).

– Scarlets conceded six turnovers (fewest) and nine penalties in Round 5.

– Scarlets have averaged the second-fewest post-contact metres per carry (0.65) and the highest proportion of ineffective carries (6.4%) so far this season.

 

Zebre Parma

– Zebre made the fewest tackles (96) in Round 5 but made the most dominant tackles (13). They only missed 12 tackles.

– Zebre made the most kicks in play (38) and kick metres (1162) in Round 5. Geronimo Prisciantelli and Giovanni Montemauri made 11 apiece; Prisciantelli kicked the only 50/22 of the weekend.

– Zebre made the fewest visits to the 22m (five) in Round 5. However, they scored more points (six) from outside the 22m than any other team.

 

DHL Stormers v Glasgow Warriors

DHL Stormers

– Damian Willemse scored the most points (14) in Round 5 – all from goal kicks. He didn’t miss a shot at goal.

– Keke Morabe has made the most carries for the Stormers this season (44). 14 of these were dominant (2nd overall) and he has made 71 post-contact metres (2nd).

– The Stormers have had the quickest average ruck speed so far this season (3.38) and lost just 13 rucks (second-fewest).

 

Glasgow Warriors

– Glasgow made the joint-most contestable kicks (ten) and retained four in Round 5. They averaged the second-fewest metres per kick (22.9).

– Glasgow made the joint second-fewest entries to the 22 (seven) in Round 5 but averaged the second-most points per visit (3.4).

– Glasgow have averaged the most metres per possession (10.7) so far this season. They have also beaten the most defenders (134) and scored the most tries (26).

Hollywoodbets Sharks v Munster

Hollywoodbets Sharks

– The Sharks had the highest proportion of contestable kicks (45.5%) in Round 5; ten of their 22 kicks in play were contestable (joint-first).

– The Sharks averaged 1.1 post-contact metres per carry (1st) in Round 5 – 21.8% of their carries were dominant (2nd).

– The Sharks had the second-quickest average ruck speed (3.38) in Round 5 but had the second-lowest ruck retention rate (93.2%).

 

Munster

– Munster have scored the second-most points per 22m entry (2.9) so far this season – 44% of their visits have ended in a try (1st).

– Munster have had the second-lowest lineout success rate (78.8%) so far this season, having lost 14 lineouts (second-most). However, their scrum success rate is 97% (4th).

– Munster have beaten 104 defenders (4th) and made 1883 carry metres (2nd) so far this season. They have averaged 2.96 metres per carry (4th).

Ospreys v Edinburgh

Ospreys

– Morgan Morris made the most carries into contact (16), dominant carries (six) and post-contact metres (38) in Round 5. He also made more carry metres than any other forward (84).

– Ospreys made the most carries (179), dominant carries (24), and post-contact metres (143) in Round 5. However, they averaged the fewest metres per carry (1.57) and had third-lowest gainline success (27.4%).

– Ospreys have averaged 6.6 metres per possession (second-fewest) and have had the lowest gainline success rate (32.3%) so far this season. They have also had the slowest average ruck speed (4.57).

 

Edinburgh

– Edinburgh won the joint-most turnovers (eight) and stole five lineouts (1st) in Round 5. Grant Gilchrist stole more lineouts than any other player (three).

– Duhan Van Der Merwe made the most carry metres (139) and joint-most initial breaks (three) in Round 5. He also beat six defenders.

– Edinburgh made the most carry metres (567) and beat the most defenders (39) in Round 5. Teammate Darcy Graham beat more than any other player (ten).

 

Leinster v Emirates Lions

Leinster

– RG Snyman made 12 carries into contact in Round 5 – eight resulted in an offload (1st). No player has made more offloads in a single game so far this season.

– Ross Byrne assisted two tries – no player assisted more – and two clean breaks in Round 5.

– Leinster averaged the second-most metres per carry (3.4) in Round 5. They had the third-highest proportion of dominant carries (21.7%).

 

Emirates Lions

– Quan Horn made the most kicks in play (14) and kick metres (615) in Round 5.

– The Lions were one of two teams that didn’t lose a lineout (16/16) in Round 5. They have had the best lineout success rate so far this season (96.3%).

– The Lions made the fewest carries into contact (72) but made the most ineffective carries (ten) in Round 5.

Connacht v Dragons

Connacht

– Connacht made the joint-most initial breaks (nine), second-most carry metres (479) and beat the second-most defenders (35) in Round 5.

– Connacht made the most carries into contact (132) and third-most dominant carries (21) in Round 5. They averaged the most metres per possession (12.9)

–       Connacht had the lowest tackle success rate (72.1%) in Round 5: they missed 18 tackles and conceded eight initial breaks.

 

Dragons

– The Dragons had the best tackle success rate (87.2%) in Round 5. They made the fewest ineffective tackles (16) and missed the second-fewest (nine).

– The Dragons averaged the most metres per kick (33.8) in Round 5 and made no kick errors from 27 kicks in play.

– The Dragons won the joint-most turnovers (eight) in Round 5. However, they also conceded 15 turnovers, 12 of which were unforced (16th).

Cardiff v Ulster

Cardiff

– Cardiff had the best gainline success rate (51.5%) and proportion of dominant carries (23.3%) in Round 5.

– Cardiff made more tackles (190) than any other team in Round 5, with Alun Lawrence making more than any other player (24). However, they also missed the most (39) and conceded the most tackle penalties (five).

– Among players with 100% lineout throw success, Dafydd Hughes threw into the most (11) in Round 5.

 

Ulster

– Ulster made the second-most 22m entries (17) in Round 5 – 35% of their visits resulted in a try (4th).

– Ulster made the most maul metres (40) in Round 5. They won two maul penalties (1st) and scored a maul try.

– Jacob Stockdale made the second-most carry metres (122) and joint-most initial breaks (three) in Round 5. So far this season, he has made the most carry metres (317) and dominant carries (15).

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