The DHL Stormers hosted ASM Clermont Auvergne looking for a win to secure a top 16 playoff spot in the Heineken Champions Cup. Clermont led 09-06 when Evan Roos was sent on, Roos scored a brilliant try which started the DHL Stormers blitzkrieg which lead to a 30-16 bonus point win.
DHL Stormers dominated the early exchanges against Clermont, however, Clermont was the first to score with a converted penalty which was the only points scored in the first quarter. The DHL Stormers enjoyed an 80% territorial and possession advantage after 20 minutes of play.
An arm wrestle between the two physical teams that are fighting to establish dominance up front. The DHL Stormers conceded 7 penalties to the 4 of Clermont costing the home team some promising attacking opportunities. Clermont led 06-03 going into the second half.
A blitzkrieg of 3 tries in the third quarter ensured that DHL Stormers go into the last 20 minutes leading 25-09. A definite momentum shift as the DHL Stormers started to find gaps in the seemingly impenetrable defence of Clermont.
Clermont slowly clawed their way back into a match and scored a try during the last quarter. Unfortunately for the visitors they could not a needed converted try to ensure a loser bonus point and the DHL Stormers secured their place in the Heineken Champions Cup top 16 playoffs.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers: Tries: Evan Roos, Herschel Jantjies, Dan du Plessis, Deon Fourie. Conversions: Jean-Luc du Plessis (2). Penalties: Kade Wolhuter (2)
Clermont: Try: Bautista Delguy. Conversion: Gabin Michet. Penalties: Anthony Belleau (3).
As it Happened:
14:05 Anthony Belleau converted a penalty for Clermont. (00-03)
26:09 Anthony Belleau converted a penalty for Clermont. (00-06)
38:00 Kade Wolhuter converted a penalty for the DHL Stormers. (03-06)
43:52 Kade Wolhuter converted a penalty for the DHL Stormers. (06-06)
45:40 Anthony Belleau converted a penalty for Clermont. (06-09)
46:50 Anthony Belleau (Clermon) was shown a yellow card.
47:18 Evan Roos scored the DHL Stormers' first try bulldozing his way over the tryline from the back of a 5m lineout-maul. (13-09)
51:29 Herschel Jantjies scored in the corner for the DHL Storers after Suleiman Hartzenberg sniped down the tryline before offloading to Jantjies, (18-09)
53:09 Dan du Plessis cut through the defence of Clermont to score a brilliant individual try. (25-09)
60:29 Bautista Delguy intercepted a poor pass by DHL Stormers to run 70 meters for Clermont's first try. (25-16)
63:38 Deon Fourie scored the bonus point try from the back of a 5m line-out maul. (30-16)
76:47 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) was sent of with a yellow card.
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15. Damian Willemse, 14. Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13. Ruhan Nel, 12. Dan du Plessis, 11. Angelo Davids, 10. Kade Wolhuter, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Hacjivah Dayimani, 7. Willie Engelbrecht, 6. Deon Fourie, 5. Marvin Orie, 4. Connor Evans, 3. Neethling Fouche, 2. Joseph Dweba, 1. Steven Kitshoff (c). Replacements: 16. JJ Kotze, 17. Ali Vermaak, 18. Brok Harris, 19. Ben-Jason Dixon, 20. Evan Roos, 21. Herschel Jantjies, 22. Jean-Luc du Plessis, 23. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
ASM Clermont Auvergne: 15. Alex Newsome, 14. Marvin O’Connor, 13. Cheik Tiberghien, 12. George Moala, 11. Bautista Delguy, 10. Anthony Belleau, 9. Baptiste Jauneau, 8. Judicaël Cancoriet (c), 7. Killian Tixeront, 6. Alexandre Fischer, 5. Thibaud Lanen, 4. Paul Jedrasiak, 3. Rabah Slimani, 2. Etienne Fourcade, 1. Giorgi Beria. Replacements: 16. Benjamin Boudou, 17. Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18. Davit Kubriashvili, 19. Miles Amatosero, 20. Lucas Dessaigne, 21. Sébastien Bézy, 22. Gabin Michet, 23. Francois Mey.
