Stormers Overcome Late Injury Blows To Slay Connacht Away
The DHL Stormers kicked off their URC campaign in scintillating fashion, securing a statement 29-15 bonus-point victory over Connacht in Galway. Despite their dominance, however, the performance was not without its flaws.
The Cape side ran in four tries, three of them coming in the second half, with Warrick Gelant, Sazi Sande, Vernon Paulo and Ezekiel Ngobeni all crossing the whitewash as the Stormers outscored a Connacht side that managed two tries of their own.
The Stormers suffered a pre-match blow when Evan Roos was forced to withdraw with a hamstring injury, while Marcel Theunissen was ruled out with a calf injury. As a result, Gary Porter moved to lock, Louw Nel shifted to the No. 6 flank, and Riley Norton moved from lock to No. 7.
Wandi Simelane was also moved to the bench.
Following their shock defeat to Connacht at DHL Stadium last season, after an emotional and tumultuous week, the Stormers were determined to settle the score with the Irish side and start the new campaign on the right foot.
After a tepid start, the Stormers drew first blood through the boot of Jurie Matthee, who slotted a penalty after Connacht were penalised for offside to give the visitors a 3-0 lead.
The early-season rust of a first game was evident, with the home side guilty of a number of early knock-ons as the match settled into a scrappy affair.
Following a scrum penalty in favour of the Stormers, the visitors mauled their way towards the Connacht line, earning a penalty advantage in the process. Loanee Andre Warner then produced a smart grubber kick behind the Connacht defence, allowing Warrick Gelant to gather and dot down for the Stormers’ first try of the season.
Matthee converted to give the Stormers a double-digit lead after 20 minutes.
A resilient Stormers defence kept Connacht at bay, matching the home side phase for phase, while unforced errors from the Irish side proved costly.
Connacht were let off the hook twice as the half drew to a close. First, Matthee broke the line but was unable to find the onrushing Warner with his offload. Then, with the Stormers bombarding the Connacht 22 and seemingly certain to score, Sam Gilbert gratefully cleared the danger after intercepting the ball.
The visitors were made to rue those missed opportunities as the home side came back with a bang.
First, Mack Hansen executed a pick-and-go to dot down, before Josh Ioane barged over following some good phase play and a powerful carry from Hansen, giving the home side an unlikely half-time lead.
HALF-TIME: CONNACHT 7-10 STORMERS
Connacht foiled another Stormers try-scoring opportunity when Seabelo Senatla was held up over the line. Matthee then hooked a crucial penalty before Gilbert slotted a penalty to reduce the deficit to 15-10.
The home side were reduced to 14 men when a cynical foul by captain Paul Boyle handed the Stormers the advantage – one they took minutes later when replacement Sazi Sande bulldozed over after a succession of pick-and-goes.
Matthee slotted the conversion to give the Stormers a 17-15 lead after 58 minutes.
With the visitors dominating much of the proceedings, they finished in emphatic fashion. Vernon Paulo scored a crucial try in the 78th minute to seal the victory, before Ezekiel Ngobeni capped a stunning counter-attacking move with a try of sheer beauty, putting the stamp on an emphatic opening-day away victory.
