The DHL Stormers used their home ground advantage to defeat the defending champions, Leinster, 35-00 from Ireland on Friday evening. The Capetonians have lost just once at DHL Stadium in any competition since April 2024, and despite being made to work hard in the early stages, their four tries ensured them an “easy” bonus-point try.
In an error-ridden first half, Jurie Matthee converted two penalties in the first half to edge the Stormers into a 06-00 lead at the halftime break.
Matthee added a third penalty after just two minutes of play in the second half, whereafter, Stefan Ungerer bulldozed his way over the tryline with three defenders on his back. Mathhe converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 16-00.
With eighteen minutes to play, the Stormers used their dominance up front for Evan Roos to score the Stormers' second try off the back of a five-meter lineout maul. Matthee added the extra two points to increase their lead to 23-00.
Following two yellow cards to Leinster, Evan Roos scored his second try off the back of a lineout-maul. Matthee converted to extend the Stormers' lead to 30-00 with ten minutes still to play in the second half.
Two minutes later, Jurie Matthee sniped to run thirty-five meters to score the Stormers' fourth and bonus point try to extend the Stormers' lead to 35-00, which was the final score.
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (c), 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Adré Smith, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Clinton Swart.
Leinster Rugby: 15 Jimmy O’Brien, 14 Tommy O’Brien, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Ciarán Frawley, 11 Jordan Larmour, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Luke McGrath (captain), 8 James Culhane, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Ryan Baird, 5 Brian Deeny, 4 Diarmuid Mangan, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Gus McCarthy, 1 Jack Boyle. Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Paddy McCarthy, 18 Andrew Sparrow, 19 Max Deegan, 20 Will Connors, 21 Fintan Gunne, 22 Harry Byrne, 23 Hugh Cooney.