Stormers vs Bulls: URC stats, facts and key history

Here is everything you need to know ahead of Friday’s United Rugby Championship match between the Stormers and Bulls at Cape Town Stadium.

Overall URC head-to-head record: Played 3, Stormers won 3, Bulls won 0.

STATS AND FACTS: STORMERS VS BULLS

— Flanker Nama Xaba has extracted more penalties by jackalling at the ruck than any other player (five).

— The Stormers’ success rate off the tee is the highest in the league (88%) – they have scored 26 conversions and 16 penalty goals.

— The Stormers average the fewest contact metres per 80 minutes in the Vodacom URC (48.6).

— Making a total of 525, Bulls wing David Kriel has gained more metres with ball in hand than any other player in the URC.

— Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith has made the most metres in the league from penalty kicks, pushing his side a total of 1,401 metres down field. However, he has also thrown a league-high four forward passes.

— Veteran hooker Bismarck du Plessis has won as many turnovers, excluding when a penalty has been awarded, at the ruck as any other player (four = Marcus Rea).

— Facing off this weekend, Manie Libbok and Chris Smith are currently tied as the league’s top points-scorers, having scored 75 apiece.

— The Stormers lost their first two URC matches against the Bulls but have won three on the bounce since.

— The Stormers are on a 15-match winning streak at home and have won their last three league fixtures.

— The defending champion Stormers have lost just once in defence of their crown this campaign: 24-30 to Cardiff at the Arms Park on 22 October.

— The Stormers have won their last fifteen home games in the URC since the Lions beat them 37-19 at Cape Town Stadium on 4 December 2021.

— The Stormers have won their last five fixtures against fellow South African franchises since drawing 22-all with the Sharks in Durban in January.

— The Bulls have won their last four URC matches since their 17- 31 defeat to Munster in Limerick in Round 5.

— The Bulls have won two away games in the URC this season, beating the Lions in Johannesburg on the opening weekend and Benetton in Treviso in Round 6.

— The Bulls’ only defeat in their last four URC matches against South African opponents was in last season’s final to the Stormers.

— The Stormers have won their last three encounters with the Bulls in the URC since Bulls 31-27 win in Pretoria in the Rainbow Cup in June 2021.

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