Stormers cement top-six spot with bonus-point win
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers had too much firepower for the top Welsh team, sending the Ospreys home winless from their South African tour.
Despite an influx of Welsh internationals, the Ospreys had no answer to the Stormers’ pace and power – the hosts winning 29-13 in Cape Town on Saturday.
Outscoring the visitors by four tries to one, the Stormers’ cemented their place in the top six in a very congested top end of the United Rugby Championship table.
* To recap all the drama, CLICK HERE!
Gas on! ⚡
Leolin Zas grabs a brace 👏#URC | @TheStormers | #STOvOSP pic.twitter.com/toz0ibcJSi
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 2, 2022
The Stormers were in the mood from the moment scrumhalf Paul de Wet finished a dazzling move in the sixth minute, and the Ospreys faced an uphill struggle after falling 3-14 behind inside the opening 10.
De Wet and lock Adre Smith finished incisive and accurate moves involving a host of Stormers players to signpost the trouble ahead for the Welsh region.
Manie Libbok was expertly directing operations at flyhalf and only two penalties from his opposite number Gareth Anscombe were keeping the Ospreys in temporary touch.
Libbok slipped between two forwards to renew the hosts’ onslaught and once flanker Hacjivah Dayimani had sucked in two defenders, Zas used his strength to complete a tricky finish.
The Ospreys were contributing to their own downfall by turning the ball over too easily and their opponents needed no second invitation to attack with Libbok and Zas rampant.
In the 55th minute, a loose kick led directly to a second try for Zas, who chipped over the defence and gathered the ball to score.
The Stormers’ explosive left wing was sin-binned for tackling without retreating 10 yards as a free-kick was being taken and there followed a promising spell from Toby Booth’s side, who had the hosts pinned in the left corner.
The blue wall held firm until replacement Max Nagy crossed in overtime for the Ospreys’ only try of the evening, with Anscombe converting.
Man of the Match
Libbok is being talked up as a future Springbok and on the evidence of his ability to unpick the Ospreys, it will happen soon rather than later.
The 24-year-old fly-half found gaps at will, constantly scanning for openings before using his pace to accelerate clear and then picking the right pass.
Play of the match
Of the Stormers’ four tries, it was the third just before the half-hour mark that really lit up Cape Town Stadium.
Halfbacks Libbok and De Wet created space before Dayimani sucked in defenders and offloaded to the brilliant Zas.
There was still work for Zas to do, but he showed his power to finish from 10 yards out.
The scorers
For the Stormers
Tries: De Wet, Smith, Zas 2
Cons: Libbok 3
Pen: Libbok
For Ospreys
Try: Nagy
Con: Anscombe
Pens: Anscombe 2
Yellow cards: Leolin Zas (Stormers, 65 – cynical foul, not retreating 10 metres), Manie Libbok (Stormers, 71 – cynical foul, deliberately knocking the ball on)
Teams
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Chad Solomon, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Deon Fourie, 21 Ben-Jason Dixon, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Sergeal Petersen.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Michael Collins, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Rhys Webb (captain), 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Rhys Davies, 20 Ethan Roots, 21 Harri Deaves, 22 Reuben Morgan Williams, 23 Max Nagy.
Referee: Frank Murphy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
* Additional reporting by @URCOfficial
