The Stormers’ visit to Ellis Park in 2011 was an important one as it marked a much-needed win for a recently-defeated Cape side, writes JEREMY PROOME.

The Stormers had just managed to beat the Lions at Newlands in round two just two months earlier, but were enduring the hangover of losing to the Reds at home ahead of their second encounter with the men from Johannesburg.

While the Stormers were confident, they received serious opposition from the Ellis Park crowd and Lions side that was determined to turn its season around.

Warren Whiteley scored for the home team, with Burton Francis adding 14 points with the boot, but that was the end of the tally for John Mitchell’s side.

The Stormers scored through Danie Poolman and Jaque Fourie, and put the Lions out of sight of a losing bonus point, with Johann Sadie scoring a try in the dying seconds.

While the Stormers got the win they needed, Gio Aplon wouldn't have been pleased as he missed out on two tries. Juan de Jongh could also have scored but tried to touch down under the posts on his way to the line and slipped.

Lions – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies la Grange (c), 11 Deon van Rensburg, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Pat Cilliers, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Dries van Schalkwyk, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach.

Stormers – 15 Conrad Jantjies, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Gary van Aswegen, 9 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 8, Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (c), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 CJ van der Linde, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs:16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Johann Sadie.

Photo: Gavin Barker/BackpagePix