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Watch: The Stormers breakout wing who is taking over the URC
By Sam Smith
Stormers left wing Leolin Zas has taken the United Rugby Championship by storm in 2021/22, with the Western Province product producing the most tries so far in the season.
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The 26-year-old has bagged nine tries so far, including two against Ospreys on the weekend. He does not just possess finishing prowess but has shown incredible playmaking ability to manufacture tries out of nothing.
In his second effort against the Welsh club, he pulled off a 50-metre chip and chase over the top of fullback Dan Evans and got a dream bounce to score effortlessly.
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Zas has the combination of power, speed, agility to go with his kicking skills which has made him a force on the Stormers edge this season.
This Zas is klas! Nobody has scored more tries in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season than our man Leolin Zas. Here are all nine of them for you to enjoy.#youmustbezas #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/K9qEMCuBKR
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 6, 2022
The former South African under-20 rep came through the Stormers development system and made his debut for the club in 2016. It became a short lived stint there as the winger made the move to Durban with the Sharks.
His Sharks career never really got going with just five appearances over two years but his move back to the Cape in 2020 is starting to pay dividends as one of the form wingers in the URC.
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The winger revealed recently that he wanted to quit rugby but has bounced back into career defining form with his former club.
Did Leolin Zas just smash through two Welsh internationals on his way to scoring a try he had no right to score?
— Marwaan (@Marubhana) April 2, 2022
Damn, Leolin Zas is a classy finisher.
— Jacques Maree (@JacquesMaree73) April 2, 2022
Biggest surprise for me this season has been the form of Leolin Zas… #SSRugby #STOvsOSP #Stormers
— Carl (@Carl_T84) April 2, 2022
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Leolin Zas is a proper unit out on the Wing for the stormer this season. #URC https://t.co/lAIuZPN6Xs
— Thulani Sejo (@thulanisejo) March 26, 2022
Whether Zas’ URC form will propel him to higher honours is a question mark as the man in front of him, Sharks wing Makazole Mampimpi, has been one of the game’s premier finishers while Cheslin Kolbe when healthy is a lock on the other wing.
The Springboks selectors will be happy to see Zas in such form anyway, giving them an exciting prospect should they need to use the depth building in South Africa at the moment.
