The DHL Stormers started their Investec Champions Cup campaign with a 26-17 win against Bayonne in France. A try in each half and four penalties from fly-half Clinton Swart saw the visitors claim a crucial away victory ahead of their encounter with two-time champions Stade Rochelais at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium next week.
Despite being forced into a late change with fullback Warrick Gelant ruled out through injury and being reduced to 14 men for 30 minutes in the second half, the visitors took it all in their stride to hand Bayonne their first defeat at home this season.
The DHL Stormers got off to the perfect start as Leolin Zas broke free in the 22 and put in a kick ahead, which was chased down by Imad Khan and the scrumhalf was able to finish for the opening try.
Bayonne hit back with a try of their own from centre Federico Mori, who also got on the end of a kick, but the conversion was put wide.
The DHL Stormers were impressive in the set-pieces, and that laid a good foundation as they disrupted the opposition’s ball regularly.
They were also a constant threat at the breakdown and reaped rewards as flyhalf Clinton Swart kicked three consecutive penalties to send them into the half-time break with a 16-5 advantage.
The visitors brought on all six forward replacements at once early in the second half, but they were reduced to 14 for 20 minutes soon afterwards, when Adre Smith was shown a red card for intentionally stamping on an opposition player.
Bayonne looked to have scored immediately, but the try was disallowed for obstruction. They did score soon after that, though, as replacement Arnaud Erbinartagaray charged down a kick in the 22 and dived in-goal to make it 16-10.
Lock Lucas Paulos forced his way over from close range, and the conversion saw the home team take the lead for the first time in the match.
Leolin Zas was shown a yellow card for colliding in the air with an opponent as we went up for a high ball, but despite that setback, his team never stopped fighting.
Their forward dominance was rewarded as Bayonne were shown two yellow cards in quick succession.
The DHL Stormers scrum had them in the ascendancy, and they made it count on the scoreboard when Paul de Villiers scored five minutes from the end.
A late penalty from Swart put the exclamation on an impressive performance, which sees the DHL Stormers travel home with four points ahead of their clash with Stade Rochelais in Gqeberha next week.
Teams:
Aviron Bayonnais: 15 Yohan Orabe, 14 Tom Spring, 13 Cheikh Tiberghien, 12 Federico Mori, 11 Victor Hannoun, 10 Joris Segonds, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Nika Lomidze, 7 Arthur Iturria, 6 Alexandre Fischer, 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Alvaro Garcia Iandolino, 3 Marco Fepulea’i, 2 Vincent Giudicelli, 1 Ignacio Calles. Replacements: 16 Lucas Martin, 17 Swan Cormenier, 18 Pascal Cotet, 19 Manex Ariceta, 20 Facundo Bosch, 21 Raphael Marchesin, 22 Baptiste Tilloles, 23 Arnaud Erbinartegaray.
DHL Stormers: 15 Wandisile Simelane, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Jonathan Roche, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Salmaan Moerat (c), 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 JJ Kotzé, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adré Smith, 20 JD Schickerling, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Ruhan Nel.