Stormers ease past Sunwolves
The Stormers scored seven sparkling tries to record a bonus-point victory against Super Rugby rookies the Sunwolves at Newlands.
|||It was never going to be easy for the Stormers to “get up” against what was effectively a Sunwolves B team, but they scored seven sparkling tries to record a bonus-point victory at Newlands on Friday night.
The 46-19 scoreline was secondary to the main goal of winning by more than three tries, and coach Robbie Fleck can feel highly satisfied by a strong performance by his young side that welcomed back star Springbok centre Damian de Allende from a four-month ankle injury layoff in the second half.
When Sunwolves coach Mark Hammett announced a largely second-string side on Thursday, it actually increased the pressure on the Stormers to deliver a knockout blow and not allow the Japanese side to drag them into a messy street fight.
The Cape team put their foot down early on as they dominated the scrums and were robust at the breakdowns.
Lively openside flank Sikhumbuzo Notshe dotted the first of his two tries on the night following sustained pressure where tighthead prop Vincent Koch was held up over the line.
Outside centre Johnny Kotze was a real threat with ball-in-hand and cut the Sunwolves defence to shreds on several occasions. Perhaps knowing that he was in danger of losing his place imminently due to De Allende’s return, Kotze reminded Fleck of his ability to take the outside gap.
The Stormers looked assured when carrying the ball, and after yet another multi-phase attack, right wing Kobus van Wyk went over in the corner, while hooker Scarra Ntubeni benefited from his own short lineout throw five metres out to put the result beyond doubt at 20-0 after 24 minutes.
But the try of the match came courtesy of captain Juan de Jongh as the Stormers struck from inside their own 22. Schalk Burger threw a well-timed pass to Cheslin Kolbe, and it was the angle at which the quicksilver fullback was running that created the gap, and he found De Jongh on the outside, with the centre having just enough momentum to score.
While Man-of-the-Match Notshe added a second and scrumhalf Louis Schreuder smartly evaded a few tackles to dot down as well, one of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for new flyhalf Jean-Luc du Plessis.
The son of former Newlands darling Carel, the young Du Plessis had had a sound outing in his first Super Rugby start as he mixed up his play cleverly and kicked well to goal for a personal tally of 16 points.
But it was his last-second touchdown that had the just over 20 000 spectators roaring their approval as he chipped the ball ahead and re-gathered to dive over in the same left-hand corner that his dad had scored in many times.
Fleck will hope, though, that Kolbe is not too shaken up by a silly late shoulder charge by Sunwolves lock Timothy Bond that saw him red-carded.
Kolbe took a while to get up, and walked off gingerly as he was replaced by Huw Jones.
Points Scorers
Stormers – Tries: Sikhumbuzo Notshe (2), Kobus van Wyk, Scarra Ntubeni, Juan de Jongh, Louis Schreuder, Jean-Luc du Plessis. Conversions: Du Plessis (4). Penalties: Du Plessis (1).
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