More than 41,000 spectators were kept on the edge of their seats as the Stormers maintained their dominance in the South African Shield by holding off a fierce Bulls challenge and winning 23-19 in the United Rugby Championship derby at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday afternoon.
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A flicked goal by flyhalf Manie Libbok in the 73rdrd Minutes ended successfully, although many 41 205, the largest ever for a URC match in South Africa, they are usually willing Bulls to bash their way through the tryline in the dying minutes after they won a penalty in the last scrum of the match. But the Stormers won three key turnovers in the shadow of that pole.
The Bulls were dominant in the opening quarter of the match, enjoying 65% possession and taking a comfortable 12-3 lead through Chris Smith’s four penalties in the 24th.Th minute. But the Stormers were able to put the home side out of control thanks to the instability of the Bulls’ scrum and their relentlessness in attack, tending to kick the ball too well.
The Stormers led, 13-12, at halftime when they held the Bulls defense to 28.Th minutes to score the only try of the match. Scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies threw a long pass out wide to eight Marcel Theunissen, who had an open path to the tryline and powered through to beat the cover-defence late. Libbok added another point through two penalties.
Amazing category
With a steady drizzle falling in the second half, the action will not fall into the category of spectacular as it was not at its best. But it is certainly thrilling, tremendously hard-fought as north / south derbies are usually.
And the Stormers showed the character of the champions when they scored first after the break, letting forward substitute Junior Pokomela crash through from the ruck to stop a brilliant try that was started by center Dan du Plessis’ counter-attack and continued through a good run down the line. right touchline by the wing Suleiman Hartzenburg and Theunissen.
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The Bulls showed plenty of pluck in the final quarter, but their attack just wasn’t sharp enough to break through a determined Stormers defence. He managed to cross the tryline once, after making a long multiphase by the forwards, followed by a wonderful Elrigh Louw chicken wing to wing Sbu Nkosi, who marked his return to rugby by cutting behind the back of the last defender and scoring a try.
Bull – Try it: Oh my God. Conversion: Morne Steyn. Punishment: Chris Smith (4).
Stormers – Try it: Marcel Theunissen, Junior Pokomela. Conversion: Manie Libbok (2). Punishment: Libok (2). Roll the goal: Libok.