For the Vodacom Super Rugby matches involving South African teams in round 12.
CRUSADERS vs SHARKS (Friday, 9:35am)
– The Crusaders have won nine of their last 11 Super Rugby fixtures against the Sharks, including each of the last four in a row.
– Crusaders have won their last 25 home games. One more victory will equal their best-ever run at home in Super Rugby, which they set between March 2004 and April 2007.
– The Sharks have won in New Zealand on 21 occasions, no other side from outside New Zealand have travelled there and won as often.
– The Crusaders have gained 494m and made 15 clean breaks per game in Super Rugby 2019, more than any other team.
– Daniel du Preez (Sharks) has carried the ball 116 times in Super Rugby 2019, the second most of any player and 34 more than Crusaders’ best, David Havili (82).
VODACOM BULLS vs WARATAHS (Saturday, 3:05pm)
– The NSW Waratahs have won their last two games against the Bulls in Super Rugby, this after a run of eight straight losses against the Pretoria-based side.
– The Bulls have won 21 of their last 23 at home to Australian Super Rugby opposition (L2), scoring an average of 38 points per game.
– The NSW Waratahs have lost their last three games against South African teams.The last time they lost more in succession was a five-game stretch from May 2012 to April 2013.
– The Bulls made 26 clean breaks in their last Super Rugby game against Australian opposition, their most in a single game in the last nine seasons.
– Michael Hooper (Waratahs) leads Super Rugby in 2019 for tackles (138). A Bulls player is yet to reach 100 tackles for 2019 (Jesse Kriel, 74).
JAGUARES vs STORMERS (Saturday, 9:40pm)
– The Stormers have faced the Jaguares five times in Super Rugby for four wins (L1); their only defeat occurring on their last visit to Argentina in June 2018 (25-14).
– The Jaguares have won their last three Super Rugby games on the bounce. The last time they won more in succession was a seven-game stretch in April-June 2018.
– The Stormers have two victories from their last 14 Super Rugby away trips (L12). Eight of these losses have come by 10 points or more.
– The Stormers have conceded just three tries in the second quarter of games this Super Rugby season, the joint-fewest of any team in the competition.
– Guido Petti Pagadizaval (Jaguares) has won 39 lineouts (including three steals) in Super Rugby 2019, the second most of any player.
Photo: Chris Ricco BackpagePix
