Stormers dig deep in Galway as debutants inspire URC win

MATCH REPORT: The Stormers shrugged off a major pre-match injury setback and a spirited Connacht comeback to launch their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign with a hard-fought victory in Galway on Friday night.

Already forced into late changes after losing Evan Roos and Marcell Theunissen during training on the 4G pitch, John Dobson’s side looked in control for much of the first half before Connacht stunned them with two late tries to take the lead into the break.

But the visitors responded after halftime, with powerful forward play and late heroics from debutants Vernon Paolo and Ezekiel Ngobeni securing a memorable opening-round win in Ireland.

The opening exchanges were dominated by territory and set-piece pressure before the Stormers took control. Connacht’s first attacking opportunity ended with a knock-on, handing the visitors an early scrum inside their own 22.

Ruhan Nel then produced the game’s first big moment, intercepting a Connacht pass and sprinting clear, but Mack Hansen made a superb cover tackle to prevent the opening try.

The Stormers continued to build pressure, forcing an offside penalty that Jurie Matthee calmly slotted to give the visitors a 3-0 lead after nine minutes.

Connacht struggled to find rhythm with handling errors disrupting their attacks, while the Stormers won another scrum penalty and kicked to the corner to launch another attack inside the Connacht 22.

Connacht came flying off the line with their blitz defence, but Andre Warner read it perfectly, grubbering in behind for Warrick Gelant to gather and race over for the opening try.

Connacht responded with a powerful eight-man shove at scrum time, winning a penalty and marching back into Stormers territory.

The hosts built momentum through multiple phases, piling pressure on the visitors inside their 22, but a floated pass to the wing went forward, handing the Stormers a crucial let-off.

On the 30-minute mark, Matthee made a slick break, was caught from behind, and flung the ball towards Andre Warner, who dotted down, but the pass was forward. That was a second wasted try-scoring.

Stuart Lancaster’s side had been struggling to find their feet and once more, just before halftime, the visitors were on the hunt once again.

However, an intercept by Sam Gilbert, who put ball to foot for a race to the other, was saved by Gelant.

For the first time, Connacht managed to get into the red zone.

They won a penalty for going off their feet, and Connacht’s forwards marched towards the line, rounded off by Mack Hansen, back in the green of his former team.

It was a vital try for the home side, converted by Gilbert to pull back the score to 7-10 as the teams headed to the changerooms.

A poor decision by Saebelo Senatla to keep playing after the hooter instead of hoofing the ball into the stands gave Connacht another scoring chance after he lost the ball.

Hansen went for it, but it was Josh Ioane who turned the game on its head and Connacht headed to the shed leading 12-10.

Connacht came alive in the last ten minutes of the first half, which caught the visitors completely off guard.

The Stormers started the second half at a frenetic pace, first mauling their way into the 22, and from there multiple phases followed and Senatla almost got the ball down, but was held up.

A high tackle on Hacjivah Dayimani offered Matthee a shot at goal; however, it was skewed, missing the chance to take his side into the lead again.

When the Stormers conceded another penalty for not releasing the player in the tackle, it was easy pickings for Gilbert and the home side stretched their lead by five.

The visitors’ forwards got marching again from the kick-off and built up good momentum, and won a penalty as Connacht captain Paul Doyle also got his marching orders for cynical play.

The Stormers sniffed a try as they worked their way to a metre out, and Sazi Sandi showed sheer power to force his way over.

The pendulum swung again as Matthee converted, giving his side a 17-15 lead with 20 minutes to go.

The game was opened up with both sides attacking from everywhere and possession changing hands repeatedly.

Heading into the last quarter, the Stormers had the better of the 50/50 calls from the referee.

Connor Evans, freshly introduced to the action, towered in the lineout, and from there they built phase upon phase, edging closer to the whitewash.

However, the Stormers were met by a resolute Connacht defence, with the hosts producing a series of big hits to halt their momentum before forcing a turnover and finding touch.

Yaqeen Ahmed then sliced through the defence in a brilliant break and thought he had scored, but the try was ruled out after a teammate was found to be in front of him.

With four minutes left, the Stormers won a penalty after a head clash and Ahmed found touch five metres out.

Their forwards rumbled forward, and Vernon Paolo was the man who got up with the ball, scoring on debut and taking the lead to 22-15.

Then another debutant, Ezekiel Ngobeni, also grabbed a five-pointer in the dying seconds to seal victory for the visitors.

Scorers:

For Connacht:
Tries: Hansen, Ioane
Con: Gilbert
Pen: Gilbert

For Stormers:
Tries: Gelant, Sandi, Paulo, Ngobeni
Cons: Matthee 2, Ahmed
Pen: Matthee

Yellow card: Paul Boyle (Connacht, 54’ – cynical)

Teams:

Connacht: 15 Sam Gilbert, 14 Mack Hansen, 13 John Devine, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Finn Treacy, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Ben Murphy, 8 Paul Boyle, 7 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 6 Sean O’Brien, 5 Josh Murphy, 4 Niall Murray, 3 Finlay Bealham, 2 Eoin de Buitléar, 1 Francois van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Jordan Duggan, 18 Fiachna Barrett, 19 David O’Connor, 20 Max Flynn, 21 Caolin Blade, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Shayne Bolton

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Louw Nel, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandisile Simelane, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Yaqeen Ahmed.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU, 63rd league game)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (IRFU) and Tomas O’Sullivan (IRFU)
TMO: David Sutherland (SRU)