The DHL Stormers beat Stade Rochelais 42-21 in round two of the Investec Champions Cup on Saturday, scoring six tries to three of their visitors.
The winning margin should have been a lot bigger for the Stormers; however, ill-discipline from the hosts and a never-say-die attitude of the young Stade Rochelais team kept the visitors in contact on the scoreboard.
The Stormers started like a house on fire, and following a great kick-pass by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, was collected by Dylan Maart, who scored in the corner after two minutes of play in the first half.
Four minutes later, the Stormers showed their class at the back with a “simple” pass putting Leolin Zas in space to score easily, extending the Stormers' lead to 10-00 after eight minutes of play in the first half.
Following two tries of Paul de Villiers being disallowed, Stade Rochelais slowly clawed their way back into the match. Following several scrum penalties awarded to Stade Rochelais, hooker Quentin Lespiaucq scored off the back of a five-meter lineout maul. Quentin Lespiaucq converted to cut the Stormers’ lead to 10-07 with fourteen minutes still to play in the first half.
The ill-discipline of the Stormers kept Stade Rochelais on the attack in the Stormers’ red zone for most of the remainder of the first half.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted a second penalty with time up on the clock, to lead 16-07 at the halftime break.
The Stormers once again started the half like a house on fire, and André-Hugo Venter scored off the back of a line-out maul to extend the Stormers lead to 21-07.
Minutes later, Nikoloz Sutidze scored Stade Rochelais second try, also off the back of a lineout-maul. Diego Jurd converted to cut the Stormers' lead to 21-14, and thirty minutes still to play.
Thereafter, the Stormers upped the pace of their attack and scored tries by Dylan Maart and Warrick Gelant, before Nathan Bollengier scored for Stade Rochelais, reducing the Stormers ' lead to 35-21 and twelfe minutes still to play in the first half.
Marcel Theunissen added his name to the scoresheet, which was converted by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu to secure a deserved 42-21 bonus-point win.
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 JJ Kotzé, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Ruan Ackermann, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Imad Khan, 23 Wandisile Simelane
Stade Rochelais: 15 Nathan Bollengier, 14 Suliasi Vunivalu, 13 Adrien Seguret, 12 Simeli Daunivucu, 11 Hoani Bosmorin, 10 Diego Jurd, 9 Nolhann Couillaud, 8 Lucas Andjisseramatchi (c), 7 Kirill Fraindt, 6 Charles Kante Samba, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Karl Sorin, 2 Quentin Lespiaucq, 1 Reda Wardi. Replacements: 16 Nikoloz Sutidze, 17 Christian Luaki, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Simon Huchet, 20 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 21 Edouard Richer, 22 Thomas Berjon, 23 Dillyn Leyds.
