Stormers too good for plucky Benetton in Stellenbosch
URC REPORT: The Stormers will be able to take a bit of momentum into the United Rugby Championship play-offs after they beat Benetton 38-22 in their final-round clash in Stellenbosch on Friday.
The Capetonians outscored the Italians by six tries to three on their way to a bonus-point victory. Stormers' No.6 Willie Engelbrecht got a brace in the match.
The Stormers were made to work hard for a 12-10 lead at the break, but they were far more superior in the second half and they eventually pulled away from their opponents.
Despite the win, the Stormers will have to make do with third position in the final standings after Ulster beat Edinburgh in Friday's late game.
Benetton started the game well and after some sustained pressure in the Stormers' half, they opened the scoring in the fifth minute with a Tomas Albornoz penalty.
It was then the home side's turn to apply some pressure and they were rewarded for some great patience on attack when Angelo Davids collected the ball from a Manie Libbok cross-kick to score the game's first try in the 14th minute.
Libbok could not add the extras with the conversion.
The Stormers' lead did not last long as Benetton's No.6 Alessandro Izekor showed some great speed to sprint away from the home side's defenders and score an excellent try. Albornoz added the extra two points with the conversion.
The home side were looking to hit back, but some petulant behaviour from Evan Roos ruined an opportunity. The No.8 was yellow-carded for pushing an opponent's head into the ground in the 26th minute.
However, the Stormers would have the final say on the scoreboard in the first half with Willie Engelbrecht crashing over for a try after a powerful driving maul.
Libbok was successful with his conversion and at half-time it was a two-point lead to the Stormers.
The Capetonians came out of the tunnel for the second half with some more determination and after some great interplay, Engelbrecht stretched over for his second try in the 41st minute. Libbok was unable to convert the score.
The bonus point was secured in the 52nd minute when JJ Kotze powered his way over the tryline after a strong surge from his captain Steven Kitshoff.
Libbok made it a 14-point lead with the conversion.
The Stormers then put some breathing space between themselves and Benetton when Clayton Blommetjies had an easy finish over the tryline after a great run by Dan du Plessis, who was put into space by Damian Willemse.
An amazing conversion by Libbok made it a 21-point ball game with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Benetton were given a glimmer of hope in the 62nd minute when Manuel Zuliani scored a try after pouncing on the ball from a poor Stormers' throw-in at the line-out.
However, Benetton's hopes were crushed a few minutes later when Marcel Theunissen was driven over the Benetton tryline. Libbok added the extra two points with the conversion.
The Stormers were reduced to 14-men again in the 68th minute when Seabelo Senatla was yellow-carded for taking out a player in the air. Senatla came off worse in the collision and he had to be taken off the field in a medical cart.
Benetton got a late consolation in the form of a penalty try in the 79th minute after Hacjivah Dayimani collapsed a maul near his own tryline. The Stormers' No.7 also received a yellow card for the infringement.
Player of the Match
Dan du Plessis. The Stormers centre oozes quality, and he delivered another accomplished display as his team consolidated a top-three United Rugby Championship finish. His classy midfield contribution stood out in a game dominated by the forwards in Stellenbosch, and he forged a high-class midfield combination with the versatile Damian Willemse.
Play of the Match
The Stormers showcased plenty of their trademark power game, causing all sorts of trouble for Benetton with their driving maul, especially. But fullback Clayton Blommetjies' 59th-minute try underlined the skills of their back division, with two one-handed off-loads splitting Benetton's defence wide open before Blommetjies applied the finish.
The scorers:
For Stormers:
Tries: Davids, Engelbrecht 2, Kotze, Blommetjies, Theunissen
Cons: Libbok 4
For Benetton:
Tries: Izekor, Zuliani
Con: Albornoz
Pen: Albornoz
Yellow cards: Evan Roos (Stormers, 26 - foul play, pushing an opponent's head into the ground); Seabelo Senatla (Stormers, 68 - dangerous play, taking out a play in the air); Hacjivah Dayimani (Stormers, 79' - cynical play, collapsing the maul)
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Hacjivah Dayimani, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Jean-Jacques Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Frans Malherbe, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Ruhan Nel.
Benetton: 15 Matteo Minozzi, 14 Edoardo Padovani, 13 Joaquin Riera, 12 Marco Zanon, 11 Marcus Watson, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage (captain), 8 Henry Time-Stowers, 7 Manuel Zuliani, 6 Alessandro Izekor, 5 Riccardo Favretto, 4 Marco Lazzaroni, 3 Filippo Alongi, 2 Siua Maile, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Bautista Bernasconi, 17 Federico Zani, 18 Nahuel Tetaz , 19 Niccolò Cannone, 20 Lorenzo Cannone, 21 Alessandro Garbisi, 22 Jacob Umaga, 23 Tommaso Menoncello.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa) & Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)