Sacha-powered Stormers race up the URC log – where will they finish?
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has led the Stormers' charge from 12th to sixth place since March, scoring 50 points in just two games.
Stormers flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 24 points against Connacht and 26 points against Benetton in the team's last matches. Picture: Roger Sedres/Gallo Images
A blistering resurgence by the Stormers, led by Springbok utility back Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu's incredible form, has paved the way to four wins in their last five matches.
The Cape Town-based side leapt up the United Rugby Championship (URC) table from 12th place to sixth since March.
They now have 45 points, four more than eighth-placed Benetton, who the Stormers smashed 56–5 last weekend. This gives them an excellent chance of remaining in the top eight and qualifying for the playoffs, with their last two regular season matches both being played at home.
Sacha storms back into URC
Their results have been fuelled by the return of Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who made a comeback from a shoulder injury against Scarlets on 15 March. He followed up that game with 24- and 26-point individual hauls against Connacht and Benetton in the following games.
Between these two matches, the 23-year-old scored four tries, nine conversions, three penalties and a drop-goal to rack up 50 points.
The Stormers' results in their last five games – which also included three winning bonus points and one losing bonus point – have suddenly made them a force to be reckoned with.
Come their last two regular season matches at home against Dragons and Cardiff (on 10 and 16 May, respectively), they are poised to not only overtake Cardiff should they beat the fifth-placed Welsh side, but perhaps even cause a frown to furrow on the brow of Sharks head coach John Plumtree.
ALSO READ: Manie Libbok to 'leave' Stormers to play in Japan — report
Small chance of Stormers catching Sharks in fourth
The fourth-placed Sharks are a comfortable eight points ahead of the Stormers though, and would have to lose their own final home matches against Ospreys and Scarlets to surrender their position to either Cardiff or Stormers.
But with the form the Stormers are in, they would be tipped to beat Dragons and Cardiff in Cape Town and at least finish fifth on the table.
That would present an exciting quarter-final against the Sharks in Durban, should they remain fourth. Few teams would wish to play against the Stormers in the form they are in, and it would hurt the pride of the Springbok-laden Sharks to lose in a home quarter-final against a team that were 12th on the log just a month ago.
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