The South African teams weren't able to notch up a single win during round 5 of this year's Vodacom URC, but that doesn't mean that there weren't some noteworthy performances. Let's have a look at every team's best player last weekend.
Emirates Lions - Sanele NohambaWhen you look at the statistics from the Lions’ game you understand just how close they came to pulling off what would have been a major upset away to Ulster, and once again Sanele Nohamba was in the forefront in his less familiar position of flyhalf. Apart from nailing his kicks from the tee, Nohamba was again good with his tactical game and justified the decision to continue with him at No10 ahead of the talented Jordan Hendrikse.
Vodacom Bulls - Sergeal PetersenThe former Southern Kings, Cheetahs and Stormers wing was yellow carded close to the end of the game when he arguably found himself in an unavoidable situation on defence and took one for the team, but aside from that he was a shining light for the Vodacom Bulls in their 31-23 loss to Edinburgh. Petersen was good in dealing with the aerial game and dovetailed nicely with fullback Devon Williams on the counter-attack plus put in one or two carries where he ran strongly and knocked opponents off the ball. Petersen was the leading Bulls player when it came to defenders beaten (a whopping 7), successful carries (4), clean breaks (2) and metres run (38).
Hollywoodbets Sharks - Phepsi ButheleziThe one thing that was clearly wrong with the Sharks’ forward play in the past was their low work rate at forward, but against Connacht the change was writ large. The Sharks forwards have suddenly become busy bees under John Plumtree in comparison to their more slothful identity of last season and no-one epitomised it more than Phepsi Buthelezi, both as a linking player on attack and on defence. Buthelezi was overtaken in the tackle count after halftime but he was tops in that department in the first half and also topped the turnovers with three in a game where the stats for the home team leave you wondering how it was they conspired to lose this game.
DHL Stormers - Evan RoosEvan Roos missed out on World Cup selection but the Stormers No8 has made a great fist of his start to the next RWC cycle by being a consistent form player in the Vodacom URC. Although the Stormers have lost three on the bounce, Roos has stood tall, and he did so again in a tight defeat to champions Munster at a drenched Thomond Park. Roos was over the line twice but held up in the second half as the Stormers pack, with the Springbok in the forefront, took control of the physical game in the second half, and ended with the most carries for his team (10) and indeed in the match, with Munster's Gavin Coombes next best with 8. He was also responsible for winning three turnovers, the most by an individual player in the match, as the Stormers mostly gave as good as they got at a difficult away venue.