Stormers Extend Flawless Start To The Investec Champions Cup

The Stormers showcased immense power and prowess despite a 20-minute red card as they continued their flawless start to the season to overcome Bayonne in the Investec Champions Cup – by 26-17 on a cold Friday evening at the Stade Jean Dauger.

The Stormers suffered a setback before kick-off when fullback Warrick Gelant was ruled out due to illness – replaced by centre Jonny Roche – which meant Wandisile Simelane moved to fullback.

The Cape-based side began with a bang as Leolin Zas broke free before kicking ahead for Imad Khan to gather and score the game’s first try within the opening minutes – putting the blue-and-white hoops into an early lead. Clinton Swart added the extra two points with his conversion. 

Bayonne started gaining momentum and gathering more possession when centre Federico Mori touched down to get the Basque-based French outfit on the scoreboard. Joris Segonds curled the conversion attempt too far to the left, allowing the Stormers to maintain their lead, albeit by just two points. 

In the 22nd minute, the Stormers were awarded a penalty with which Swart duly obliged – taking them into double figures, 10-5.

Bayonne continued to infringe, giving the Stormers further opportunity to increase the lead, which they did, in the 27th and 30th minutes, pushing the lead to 16-5. 

The teams would head into half-time without a change to the scoreline as the Stormers appeared to impose themselves very well physically – getting beyond the gain line on several occasions – with plenty of kicking behind the rushed Bayonne defence.

HALF-TIME: STORMERS 16-5 BAYONNE

The Stormers looked determined to start the second half the way they started the first when Ntuthuko Mchunu showed immense power and leg strength to bulldoze through the Bayonne defence into their 22. 

The Stormers won a penalty through the opposition being offside and, from the subsequent lineout, created a maul that looked certain to end up in a try, if not for the impressive maul defence from Bayonne.  

In the 49th minute, Adre Smith was adjudged to have stomped on a Bayonne player. Despite referee Nika Amashukeli immediately asking the TMO whether he suggested a permanent red, a 20-minute red card was issued.

From the very next play, Bayonne put together a wonderful bit of interplay among the backline, resulting in a try, but centre Cheikh Tiberghien was adjudged to have obstructed a Stormers defender in the lead-up. 

With the man advantage, Bayonne were showing a keenness to spread the ball. After a kick that seemed too easy to manage deep into the Stormers’ 22, Dylan Maart picked up and attempted a clearance. Arnaud Erbinartegaray charged the kick down, and Maart could only look back in despair as Bayonne scored a certain try. 

Tom Spring missed the conversion as Bayonne closed the score to 16-10.

The experienced Dewaldt Duvenage replaced Imad Khan, who had a wonderful outing, earning man of the match honors in his first start. 

The shift in momentum following the red card was apparent as Bayonne had their tails up – putting the Stormers under immense pressure. 

The pressure was unrelenting, and in the 60th minute, the Stormers cracked again as Lucas Paulos powered over following a succession of plays where Bayonne gained penalty advantages. This time, Tom Spring made no mistake as Bayonne took the lead for the first time, 17-16.  

The Stormers were hampered further when a nightmare second half continued as Leolin Zas was sent to the sin-bin for tackling a player in the air. 

Following the end of the 20 minutes for the red card, Salman Moerat came back on.

From here on, the game had a massive momentum shift again, this time in favour of the unbeaten South Africans. 

The Stormers continued to get the better of Bayonne at the scrum, and after foraging deep into Bayonne’s 22, Facundo Bosch and Marco Fepulea’i were both sin-binned within minutes as Bayonne simply couldn’t handle the Stormers’ scrum.  

Eventually, the pressure told, and something had to give as the physical power, prowess, and dominance of the Stormers came to the fore with Paul De Villiers crashing over.

Swart, who was exceptional from the kicking tee, made no mistake as his conversion, followed by a late penalty, gave the Stormers a well-earned 26-17 victory.