The Vodacom Bulls defeated the DHL Stormers 38-26 in an action-packed United Rugby Championship pre-season friendly at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl.
While the Bulls' clinical attacking execution allowed them to outscore the hosts by six tries to five, their coaching staff will leave with major concerns regarding their set-pieces. The Stormers completely dominated both the scrums and the lineouts throughout the afternoon.
A major silver lining for Stormers coach John Dobson was the performance of Robertson Town RFC recruit Lleyton Davids. The winger looked exceptionally sharp on the park ahead of a demanding dual URC and Champions Cup campaign.
The match started at a frantic pace, with the Stormers opening the scoring in just the fourth minute when Dylan Miller crossed the whitewash off the back of a powerful five-metre scrum.
The Bulls hit back almost immediately in the seventh minute through a Marcell Coetzee rolling maul try, capitalising on an error at the restart by Hacjivah Dayimani.
The hosts reclaimed the lead in the 15th minute when Davids showcased his explosive pace to burn Thaakir Abrahams on the outside for a spectacular try, which Jurie Matthee converted to make it 12-5.
Refusing to back down, the Bulls responded in the 21st minute through Francois Klopper from close range, just before a break in play for replacements.
The visitors then took the lead for the first time in the 37th minute when Thaakir Abrahams gathered a pinpoint Willie le Roux crossfield kick, securing a 17-12 halftime advantage for the Bulls.
The second half delivered an equally thrilling see-saw battle. The Stormers struck first in the 47th minute, with Miller securing his brace and Matthee adding the extras to put the hosts back in front.
Against the run of play in the 59th minute, Viaan Mentoor dotted down to swing the lead back to the Pretoria side.
The Stormers' pack responded in the 68th minute, earning a well-deserved penalty try following a dominant driving maul.
However, the Bulls' clinical finishing proved decisive in the final stretch. JJ Theron struck back under the posts in the 72nd minute to reclaim the lead.
Sebastian de Klerk sealed the 38-26 victory just two minutes later with a sharp try, which Keagan Johannes converted to close out the match.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Dylan Miller (2), Lleyton Davids, Penalty try. Conversions: Jurie Matthee (2).
Vodacom Bulls: Tries: Marcell Coetzee, Francois Klopper, Thaakir Abrahams, Keagan Johannes, JJ Theron, Sebastian De Klerk. Conversions: Ruben Groenewald, Viaan Mentoor (3).
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Markus Muller, 11 Lleyton Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Riley Norton, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo. Replacements: Vernon Paolo, Lukhanyo Vokozela, Olly Reid, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Herman Lubbe, Luan Botha, Adre Smith, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Jayden Brits, Yaqeen Ahmed, Kyle Smith, Gino Cupido, Joel Leotlela, Luke Burger.
Vodacom Bulls: Forwards: Alu Tsakweni, Sti Sithole, Sandi Msengana, Juann Else, John Hobson, Christiaan Grundlingh, Francois Klopper, Khuta Mchunu, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Jaco Grobbelaar, JF van Heerden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marcell Coetzee, Cepas van Biljon, Hanro Liebenberg, Nizaam Carr, Jeandre Rudolph, JJ Theron. Backs: Paul de Wet, Zak Burger, Viaan Mentoor, Keagan Johannes, Curwin Bosch, Ruben Groenewald, Riyaad Bam, Sebastian de Klerk, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Pieter van der Merwe, Stedman Gans, Demitre Erasmus, Thaakir Abrahams, Cheswill Jooste, Willie Le Roux, Hakeem Kunene.