Deon Fourie scored a brace of tries as the DHL Stormers claimed a Champions Cup last-16 playoff victory over English side Harlequins in Cape Town on Saturday.
Having taken a 17-7 lead into half time of their first Champions Cup home playoff match, thanks to Fourie’s first-half double, the Stormers claimed a thrilling 32-28 victory to progress to the quarter-finals, where they will meet either the Exeter Chiefs in England or Montpellier at home.
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Other than his two tries, Fourie was influential as ever, as the veteran loose forward claimed crucial breakdown turnovers, including one on his tryline when Harlequins threatened to work their way back into the match.
The fireworks had barely settled when the Springbok went over for his first try, as the Stormers gave a record home crowd of 33,501 exactly what they had come to see. The game kicked into overdrive from the get-go, as there were three tries in the opening eight minutes.
5️⃣5️⃣ SECONDS ???
The @THESTORMERS pick up where the @SharksRugby left off as @Deonf scores the opening try in the opening minute ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/WTZeKsOOiP
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 1, 2023
The key moments of the game came either side of half-time as the Stormers repelled a late first-half onslaught from Harlequins to preserve their 10-point lead, before Damian Willemse produced an outrageous finish in the corner just after the break.
✈️ Damian Willemse goes aerial to finish in the corner and the Faithful go wild.
⛈️ 22-7 ? (48 mins)#STOvHAR #iamastormer #dhldelivers pic.twitter.com/dWKZphrkwW
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 1, 2023
While Harlequins produced a late flurry through No 8 Alex Dombrandt and Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen, by that stage the damage had already been done as Manie Libbok’s 50-metre penalty was followed up by a maul try from Willie Engelbrecht.
Photo: EJ Langner/Gallo Images