Leinster fail to reclaim top spot as Stormers win in Cape Town
Last year's beaten finalists are up to fifth in the table
- Published
United Rugby Championship: Stormers v Leinster
Stormers (23) 42
Tries: Loader, Moerat, Jantjies, Engelbrecht, Gelant Cons: Libbok 4 Pens: Libbok 3
Leinster (0) 12
Tries: Deegan, Russell Cons: Prendergast
South African side Stormers have significantly boosted their chances of making the end-of-season playoffs with a 42-12 win over Leinster in the United Rugby Championship (URC).
Ben Loader and Salmaan Moerat touched down for the hosts in the first half, with Manie Libbok’s accuracy from the kicking tee giving his side a 23-0 lead at the break.
Leinster hit back with tries from Max Deegan and Rob Russell in the second half.
However, Herschel Jantjies, Willie Engelbrecht and Warrick Gelant notched further tries for the Stormers, giving their side an important bonus point win.
Leo Cullen's side have recently relinquished top spot in the URC but rested a number of first team players for this clash in preparation for the Champions Cup semi-final against Northampton next weekend.
Leinster have already secured their spot in the top eight in the league standings, however this win is significant for the Stormers in the battle to secure post-season action.
The Stormers got off to a perfect start, punishing an early mistake in Leinster’s midfield with Ben Loader scooping up the loose ball to sprint over and give his side an early lead. Manie Libbok added the extras from the kicking tee.
The visitors grew into the game in the second quarter but struggled to get a foothold in the game, with the Stormers successfully repelling the Irish side’s attack.
Indiscipline from the Irish side cost them in the opening half with Libbok kicking three penalties to extend his side’s lead.
Salmaan Moerat capped off a dominant first half for the hosts, powering his way over from close distance to give his side a 23-0 lead at the break.
Leinster are now four points behind league leaders Glasgow Warriors
The Stormers continued to control the game in the second half, with scrum-half Herschel Jantjies identifying a gap at the side of the ruck before scampering over to touch down under the posts.
A series of penalties conceded by the Stormers gave Leinster the momentum they needed to get off the mark, with Max Deegan adding the finishing touches to a period of pressure in the host’s 22.
The visitors struck again minutes later with Deegan contributing once again, finding himself carrying the ball in space on the wing before passing inside to Rob Russell who ran in to score his side’s second try of the game.
A yellow card for Evan Roos following a series of repeated infringements threatened to swing the momentum further in Leinster’s direction, but the Stormers defence absorbed several periods of pressure well.
The Stormers were rewarded for patient build-up in Leinster’s 22, with Willie Engelbrecht crossing under the posts to end the game as a contest.
The hosts capped off a dominant performance with an excellent try from Warrick Gelant who threw a clever dummy pass before diving over in the corner, adding insult to injury on a tough night for the heavily rotated Leinster side.
Stormers: Gelant; Hartzenberg, Du Plessis, Willemse, Loader; Libbok, Jantjies; Harris, Dweba, Fouche; Moerat (capt), Van Heerden; Theunissen, Dixon, Roos.
Replacements: Venter, Blose, Malherbe, Evans, Engelbrecht, Dayimani, Ungerer, Simelane.
Leinster: McErlean; Turner, Brownlee, Ngatai, Russell; Prendergast, Foley; Milne, McKee, Ala'alatoa; Deeny, Jenkins; Ruddock, Penny (capt), Deegan.
Replacements: McCarthy, Byrne, Clarkson, O'Tighearnaigh, Mangan, Gunne, Tector, Moloney.