The DHL Stormers won their first home fixture of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship (URC) and maintained their unbeaten record in Stellenbosch.
This was according to Michael de Vries, strategic communications officer for the Stormers.
The DHL Stormers’ lineouts were a concern in their first home match of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship against the Scarlets in Stellenbosch on 28 October, said John Dobson, Stormers head coach. The lineouts will be an area of focus in future training sessions, added Dobson. PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
The Stormers beat Welsh side Scarlets 52-7 on 28 October at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, observed SMF News.
The victory also moved them to the top of the championship after two rounds of fixtures, said De Vries.
The URC is an international rugby tournament consisting of 16 teams from Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, Italy and South Africa, according to the URC website.
A ‘showroom’ performance
The Stormers scored eight tries throughout the match and spent the entire game in the lead.
“It’s nice for the people to see that dominant style of rugby, and we could have easily scored another two or three [tries],” said John Dobson, Stormers head coach, in the post-match press conference.
The Stormers ended the second half with a 31-7 lead after two tries from flanker Marcel Theunissen and tries from scrumhalf Paul de Wet, fly-half Clayton Blommetjies and winger Ben Loader.
The match against the DHL Stormers showed the intense physicality required for this level of rugby, said Dwayne Peel, Scarlets head coach. The Scarlets lost 52-7 to the Stormers in their second fixture of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship played in Stellenbosch on 28 October. Pictured above is Paul de Wet, Stormers scrum half, scoring the team’s third try of the match. PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
Physical dominance
“We were outmuscled. In the first 15 minutes, we were right in it, but a few errors cost us possession, and then we were punished by [the Stormers’] physicality,” said Dwayne Peel, Scarlets head coach, in the post-match press conference.
The Stormers put the Scarlets under a lot of pressure with their scrums and mauls, and the Scarlets were unable to cope physically, stated Peel.
Danie Craven faithful
“[The crowd] contributed to the style of rugby. There was a nice vibe out here. It’s a spectacular place, and [Stellenbosch] has a lot of meaning to us,” said Dobson.
The support at the Danie Craven Stadium seems to encourage running rugby from the Stormers, stated Neethling Fouché, Stormers captain and tight-head prop, in the post-match press conference.
“The guys sometimes get over-excited, though, when they play in Stellenbosch,” said Fouché.
The DHL Stormers will be looking to win at least two to three of their next four games in the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship (URC), said John Dobson, Stormers head coach. Their next four games will be played abroad against European opposition, stated Dobson. Pictured above is Ben Loader, Stormers winger, in their URC match against the Scarlets in Stellenbosch on 28 October. PHOTO: Daniel Roodt
Fixtures abroad
The Stormers were faced with a quick turnaround before their next match against Scottish side Glasgow Warriors on 3 November, stated Dobson. However, the squad has been left thin after injuries to various players, including a concussion sustained by outside-centre Ruhan Nel in the clash against the Scarlets, according to Dobson.
The Stormers experienced their first defeat of the 2023/24 URC season against the Glasgow Warriors after losing 20-9 to the Scottish team. They fell behind in the first half and were “unable to find a way through the Glasgow defence in a pointless second 40 minutes”, according to an article published on the Stormers’ website.
Their next three matches of the championship will be played abroad against European opposition before they return to Stellenbosch on 2 December to face Italian side Zebre, said Dobson.
The DHL Stormers put on a “showroom” performance in their first home match of the 2023/24 United Rugby Championship, said John Dobson, Stormers head coach. The game was played at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch on 28 October, stated Dobson. VIDEO: Daniel Roodt