Seven rounds into the URC season and with the Autumn Nations Series drawing to a close, the Statmaster is back with the second Top 100 – rife with new inductees, risers, fallers and consistent high performers. Leinster’s dominance in the league is fairly reflected by 16 of their cohort being included in the exclusive roster. However, testament to the competitiveness of the league thus far, bottom-of-the-table Zebre Parma have had a competition-high increase of representation in the Top 100, with Ion Neculai, Andrea Zambonin, MJ Pelser, and Lorenzo Pani all making the cut for the first time. Here are some of the other major beneficiaries of the update: **New Face: Eben Etzebeth, Cell C Sharks** To the surprise of very few, Eben Etzebeth – who has now been an international player for over a decade – has entered the Top 100 in the coveted number one spot. A man mountain, it is not just his physicality and uncompromising, occasionally to the point of combustion, attitude that is exceptional. In fact, his extraordinary ranking is largely affected by his ability in the lineout. In this area of the game, the Bok brute is rated a 98.7. A key feature of the URC Top 100 is that individual ratings are determined not only by domestic performances, but also international appearances. Etzebeth has played just 80 minutes for his new club, the Cell C Sharks, so far this season. However, his international impression on the game is reflected by the strength of his rating. In the 2022 Rugby Championship, the 6’ 8” lock made more lineout steals than any other player in the tournament, pinching four opposition throws. He was also the most regular target for South Africa on their own throw-in, claiming 27 lineouts and fumbling none.
