In-form Stormers Thrashed By Struggling Harlequins
The previously unbeaten Stormers endured a day to forget as they were comprehensively thrashed by a struggling Harlequins side 61-10 in the Investec Champions Cup at Twickenham Stoop in London on Sunday.
While the defeat brought an impressive unbeaten run to an end, it was the manner of the loss that caused the most concern.
In a game characterised by an inability to create anything in attack, cope with pressure, and defend effectively, Harlequins made a mockery of the only unbeaten side in world rugby.
The game was a disaster of note, and all that could have gone wrong for the Stormers went wrong, while all that could have gone right for Harlequins went right.
The Stormers were on the back foot from the get-go as Harlequins did well to open them in their own half and took advantage of the opportunities they created.
Jack Kenningham got the home side off to a flying start as he dotted over following tremendous tenacity by Harlequins lock Guido Petti, who made the most of a messy situation and helped Quins set up the opener.
Marcus Smith added the conversion to give Harlequins a 7-0 lead.
The unbeaten Stormers were not allowed to settle as mere minutes later, Caden Murley spectacularly scored in the corner following a lucky deflection from an attempted Marcus Smith cross-kick in the build-up.
Smith missed the conversion, but Harlequins raced into a 12-0 lead.
The rate at which Harlequins were breaking the Stormers’ defensive line was impressive – although alarming for the Stormers – and things went from bad to worse as captain Alex Dombrandt scored Harlequins’ third try just five minutes later in a rampant opening quarter.
Smith added the extras, and Harlequins looked comfortable at 19-0.
The issues that plagued Harlequins in previous fixtures seemed long gone as they looked like world beaters, spreading the ball with precision in the cold, crisp London air.
As if matters were not against them enough, the Stormers became their own worst enemies as a Dewaldt Duvenage box kick was charged down, resulting in Chandler Cunningham-South scoring Harlequins’ fourth try.
With their tails up and no sign of abating, Nick David added a fifth try in a half that the Stormers will be desperate to forget.
HALFTIME: HARLEQUINS 33-0 STORMERS
The second half began in a similar vein – with the Stormers conceding unforced errors in attack and defence.
Harlequins were ready to pounce and continued to apply the pressure synonymous with their first-half effort.
In the 52nd minute, Harlequins scored a superb counter-attacking try by Nick David – his second of the game – from their 22, which left the Stormers reeling with the score 40-0.
David completed his hat trick in the 59th minute, and just minutes later, Zach Carr touched down, within a minute of taking to the field, obliterating the Cape side and increasing the scoreline to 54-0.
There was some joy for the Stormers as an attack finally paid off, resulting in an Imad Khan try before Dylan Maart dotted down in the 74th minute – both conversions missed by Jurie Matthee.
Jarrod Evans wrapped up proceedings with Harlequins’ ninth try of the game, closing the game off with the score at 61-10.
The defeat will surely reinvigorate the Stormers after a 10-game unbeaten streak comes to an end and will leave them with work to do ahead of their game against Leicester Tigers next Saturday at DHL Stadium.
