Stormers outclass Glasgow to move into top four

URC REPORT: The Stormers moved into the United Rugby Championship’s top four after they beat Glasgow Warriors 32-7 in Cape Town on Friday.

The Capetonians were lethal with ball in hand and they scored four tries for what could be a vital bonus point.

Damian Willemse was brilliant out wide and Warrick Gelant showed his class on attack in the second half.

The Warriors went into the fixture in third place, with the top four earning home advantage in the first play-off round, but they have now been leapfrogged by their hosts.

The Stormers are now in second place in the standings.

A 19th-minute Jack Dempsey try had seen Glasgow open up a 7-0 lead at the Cape Town Stadium, but they conceded 32 unanswered points from that point to come away empty-handed.

Rikus Pretorius, Herschel Jantjies, Leolin Zas and Evan Roos went over for the Stormers, while Manie Libbok kicked 12 points.

Libbok missed the target with an early penalty and it was Glasgow who drew first blood when Dempsey crossed at the end of the opening quarter.

After hooker Johnny Matthews was stopped just short following a barnstorming run down the left wing, Warriors were rewarded for turning down three points when Dempsey eventually found a way over, with Ross Thompson adding the extras.

The visitors had lost wing Kyle Steyn to injury four minutes earlier and saw their lead reduced to four points when Libbok opened his account shortly after the half-hour, before an excellent try had the hosts in front.

Willemse received the ball wide on the left but drifted back inside, patiently seeking the right pass, and found Pretorius picking the perfect line to breach the Glasgow defence and touch down.

Libbok made it 10-7 from the tee and added a penalty after a subsequent onslaught failed to deliver a second try.

Pretorius, who came off worse after making a crunching tackle in the first half, did not emerge for the second and Scarra Ntubeni followed him to the treatment room after pulling up with an apparent calf issue.

The injuries did not subdue the home side, however, with Jantjies going over after taking the inside pass from Hacjivah Dayimani and URC top try-scorer Zas crossing in the left corner for his 10th of the season.

Glasgow lost Josh McKay to the sin bin 12 minutes from time to end any lingering hopes of a Warriors fightback, and Roos powered over for the bonus point in the final minute, with Libbok adding the conversion.

Man of the Match

Fullback Damian Willemse was a hugely influential figure for the Stormers on the night, leading the way for metres gained (85) and offloads (4) as well as being a major creative force.

He was more than worthy of the individual honour.

Play of the match

There were a couple of contenders, but Willemse’s role in the opening Stormers try was difficult to overlook.

The composure to keep hold of the ball as he came back inside in search of the perfect pass, followed by Pretorius’ finish, made it a wonderful score that kick-started the Stormers’ evening.

Look, the man has some ball skills.#iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC https://t.co/ro3IBtKdkT

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 22, 2022

The scorers:

For Stormers:
Tries: Pretorius, Jantjies, Zas, Roos
Cons: Libbok 3
Pens: Libbok 2

For Glasgow Warriors:
Try: Dempsey
Con: Thompson

Yellow card: Josh McKay (Glasgow Warriors, 69 – foul play, high tackle)

Teams:

Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Brok Harris, 19 Salmaan Moerat, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Nama Xaba, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Warrick Gelant.

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Josh McKay, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price (captain), 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Kiran McDonald, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Rob Harley, 20 Thomas Gordon, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Cole Forbes.

Referee: Andy Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Additional source: @URCOfficial