Manie Libbok scored 23 points to steer the DHL Stormers past a determined Connacht into a second consecutive Vodacom United Rugby Championship final on Saturday.
Playing in front of a Cape Town record 47 261 crowd, the Stormers claimed a 43-25 victory to secure their place in the Vodacom URC final for the second consecutive year.
The Stormers will wait on the result of the second semi-final between Leinster and Munster in Dublin to see if they will host the final. A win for Munster will confirm another Cape Town showdown, but Leinster will host the final if they are victorious.
While the scoreline makes it seem like a cruise, it was far from easy for the hosts, who came up against a Connacht side that did not go down without a fight.
The Irish outfit enjoyed the better start as they silenced the Cape Town Stadium crowd by flying into an 8-0 lead thanks to an early try from Mack Hansen.
The King of Canberra has arrived ?@ConnachtRugby‘s Mack Hansen flyin’ high ?@Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise | #STOvCON pic.twitter.com/mR6W9ZB2FH
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 13, 2023
The first half then became the Libbok show as the Springbok flyhalf turned in a classy performance, scoring a brace of tries and playing a hand in setting up Angelo Davids.
And the crowd goes wild. #STOvCON #iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/yfpUJb1DS5
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) May 13, 2023
Manie Libbok ? Angelo Davids entertaining the 47,261 crowd ?️?@Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise | #STOvCON | @TheStormers pic.twitter.com/F3M6qyLSHV
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) May 13, 2023
That rapid-fire 24-point volley gave the Stormers a vital buffer that the hosts would rely on when Connacht launched a brave comeback attempt in the second half.
Having got their tails up by scoring just before half time, Connacht made it a nervous final 20 minutes when flank Shamus Hurley-Langton burrowed over and fullback Byron Ralston scored to cut to deficit to just four points.
However, when it mattered most, the Stormers’ key players stood tall. Paul de Wet was on hand to finish off a try started with a magical offload from Ruhan Nel, before Marcel Theunissen and Nel ensured the result by dotting down in the last five minutes.
PUT THAT ONE ON REPEAT ?
Hacjivah Dayimani with the spice ??
Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/xsRCHgjWcH
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) May 13, 2023
Photo: Twitter: @THESTORMERS