MATCH REPORT: The Stormers despatched a powerful message of their Spherical 16 United Rugby Championship conflict once they beat Benetton 56-5 in model in Cape City on Saturday night.
The Stormers’ sport administration, kicking, and defence have been all so a lot better than final week.
They have been slick in assault and ruthless in defence.
Deft fingers by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu handed Sazi Sandi his first URC strive, a mere three minutes into the sport. The conversion was good, and the Stormers have been forward early.
Minutes later, the No. 10 landed a straightforward penalty kick to stretch the result in 10-0.
The Stormers flyhalf was on hearth and banged an enormous drop purpose by the uprights for one more three-pointer for the homeside.
Extra magic from Feinberg-Mngomezulu adopted as he took a fast faucet from being taken within the air and caught the Benetton protection napping. The ball was offloaded to Dan du Plessis, who had the legs to dive over the road for the strive.
After quarter-hour, it was Stormers 20, Benetton 0.
Then Stefan Ungerer nearly reached the tryline however misplaced the ball in making an attempt to dot down.
The Stormers’ onslaught was deafening, and Benetton was frazzled. They conceded one other penalty for a late sack, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu added three extra to their tally.
The guests ultimately had a scoring alternative after a kick by the protection pressured the Stormers to hold the ball again over their line.
They gained a penalty from the scrum and opted for one more.
The Stormers have been once more penalised for collapsing the scrum, and Sandi acquired a speaking to by the referee.
The guests had a go on the tryline however misplaced the ball and conceded possession.
Saebela Senatla added his identify to the tryscorers after an intercept despatched Suleiman Hartzenberg at tempo by, sending the winger who reached out to attain the strive.
The referee lastly had sufficient of the scrum woes and confirmed Sandi a yellow.
Sixth attempt to it’s No. 6 Paul de Villiers. #STOvBEN #iamastormer @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/eClV10tUuu
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 26, 2025
The groups went for a breather and after an entertaining first 40, the homeside have been main 30-0.
The guests began the second half with a fast strive as Jacob Umaga acquired over and transformed after they retained possession from the kick-off to catch the Stormers protection napping.
The homeside hit again instantly when Marcel Theunissen was not held within the deal with, acquired again onto his toes, pumped his legs, and scored.
The Stormers’ defence was prime class, placing a whole lot of strain on Benetton.
The Stormers sustained strain close to the Benetton endzone to pressure the ball to be carried over their line, and the Stormers had the prospect set-piece on the 5m. However Benetton’s protection did properly to get the goal-line drop-out.
*To recap all of the drama, CLICK HERE!
With quarter-hour to go, Damian Willemse was despatched to the sin-bin for a excessive deal with as play resumed with a scrum to Benetton close to the Stormers 5m.
However the homeside weren’t undone by as Leolin Zas acquired maintain of a Benetton go on the midway line and ran it for his or her fifth of the night time.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu upped his tally to 19 factors and stretched their result in 44-5.
Siua Maile acquired his second yellow in so many video games for a excessive deal with, becoming a member of Willemse fieldside.
With Maile on yellow card responsibility, the Stormers’ maul helped Paul de Villiers over the whitewash for his or her sixth strive.
Bentton had their full complement of gamers again for the final strive 90 seconds earlier than full-time.
Evan Roos broke away from the scrum, gave a brief go out to Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who scored beneath the posts to shut out the sport.
Scorers:
For Stormers:
Tries: Sandi, Du Plessis, Senatla, Theunissen, Zas, De Villiers, Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 6
Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2
DG: Feinberg-Mngomezulu
For Benetton:
Tries: Umaga
Yellow playing cards: Sazi Sandi (for Stormers – collapsing the scrum, 37’), Damian Willemse (for Stormers – excessive deal with, 62’), Siua Maile (for Benetton – excessive deal with in 67’)
Groups
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Salmaan Moerat (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Brok Harris, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Connor Evans, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Suleiman Hartzenberg.
Benetton: 15 Leonardo Marin, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Tommaso Menoncello, 12 Ignacio Brex, 11 Paolo Odogwu, 10 Jacob Umaga, 9 Alessandro Garbisi, 8 Lorenzo Cannone, 7 Michele Lamaro (captain), 6 Riccardo Favretto, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Bautista Bernasconi, 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Ivan Nemer, 18 Giosué Zilocchi, 19 Scott Scrafton, 20 Eli Snyman, 21 Manuel Zuliani, 22 Andy Uren, 23 Rhyno Smith.
Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa), Griffin Colby (South Africa)
TMO: Craig Evans (Wales)
