The Stormers scored nine tries to beat the Lions 57-40 in a pre-season fixture at Newlands on Saturday, reports JON CARDINELLI.
Referee Jaco van Heerden was forced to call a halt to play towards the end of the first half, as both sets of forwards were involved in an off-the-ball scrap that lasted for a couple of minutes. If anything, that altercation highlighted the intensity of the contest and the desire to win the forward exchanges.
The quality of the defence, however, was another story.
The Lions dominated the collisions and had the better of the lineout battle in the first half. The visitors' defence pressured the Stormers' attack, and it was an intercept by Howard Mnisi that led to the first try of the match by winger Madosh Tambwe.
The Stormers conceded too many penalties during the first quarter. They made basic mistakes when in possession, and struggled to win the ball at the lineout.
The Lions led 21-7 after 27 minutes. They should have taken control of the game at that point. Instead, they took their foot off the pedal and conceded 33 unanswered points.
The Stormers fought back to level the scores right before half-time. A try by Siya Kolisi after the break allowed them to take the lead for the first time in the contest.
The hosts delivered an improved lineout performance in the second stanza. The maul from a set piece yielded two tries in quick succession.The Stormers were cruising towards a big win.
But the defence of both teams in the latter stages left a lot to be desired. The Stormers leaked three tries in the dying stages, but managed to score three of their own in the same period.
The Stormers will host the Lions in a Super Rugby match on 14 April.
Stormers – Tries: Chris van Zyl, Dan du Plessis, Siya Kolisi, Nizaam Carr, Bongi Mbonambi (2), Cobus Wiese, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Jano Vermaak. Conversions: Rob du Preez (3), Jean-Luc du Plessis (3).
Lions – Tries: Madosh Tambwe (2). Malcolm Marx, Akker van der Merwe, Ruan Ackermann, Corne Fourie. Conversions: Elton Jantjies (3), Andries Coetzee (2).
Stormers squad – Juarno Augustus, Nizaam Carr, Jaco Coetzee, Juan de Jongh, Dan du Plessis, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Rob du Preez, Dewaldt Duvenage, Rynhardt Elstadt, JC Janse van Rensburg, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Dan Kriel, Dillyn Leyds, Wilco Louw, Frans Malherbe, SP Marais, Bongi Mbonambi, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Caylib Oosthuizen, Ramone Samuels, JD Shickerling, Chris van Zyl, Jano Vermaak, EW Viljoen, Cobus Wiese, Damian Willemse, Eduard Zandberg, Leolin Zas
Lions – 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Cyle Brink, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Subs: 16 Akker vd Merwe, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Andries Ferreira, 20 Lourens Erasmus, 21 Robert Kruger, 22 Jaco Kriel, 23 Victor Sekekete, 24 Dillon Smit, 25 Andries Coetzee, 26 Harold Vorster, 27 Antony Volmink, 28 Jacques Nel, 29 Sylvian Mahuza.
Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images
