The DHL Stormers snapped the Vodacom Bulls’ 12-game winning streak in Pretoria on Saturday evening with a fifth successive Vodacom United Rugby Championship victory in a clash between the old rivals.
In an all-time classic derby, the Stormers showed impressive resilience to fight back against an early onslaught from the Bulls as the defending URC champions narrowly beat the hosts 23-19 in front of a record 41,205 strong crowd at Loftus Versfeld.
The Bulls were rewarded for dominating possession and territory in the opening 25 minutes through four penalties from the boot of flyhalf Chris Smith, but a resolute Stormers defence showed tenacity by braving waves of attack from the home side to keep a try at bay.
Minutes later, the Stormers, enjoying a sparse spell of possession in Bulls territory, caught the men in blue napping as scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies exploited space on the wing to find No 8 Marcel Theunissen with a skip pass that finished with a score in the corner.
KEO: Stormers sizzle, match officials suck in URC thriller
IN THE CORNER! ?
DHL @TheStormers flanker, Marcel Theunissen slips through the gap in the Vodacom Bulls' defence and scores his third try in the @Vodacom #URC!#BULvSTO pic.twitter.com/98Ha3G4sLI
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) February 18, 2023
Flyhalf Manie Libbok kicked the conversion to go along with an early penalty to take the Stormers to within a point of the Bulls. He slotted his second penalty deep into the first half, taking the visitors into the lead for the first time, and was happy to boot the ball into touch when the half-time hooter sounded minutes later.
With the rain coming down as the second half started, the ascendency shifted as the Stormers kicked into second gear in the 52nd minute, with replacement loose forward Junior Pokomela crashing over and Libbok adding the extras to extend their lead to 20-12.
Bulls fullback David Kriel then earned 10 minutes on the naughty chair for a deliberate knock-on, but instead of going down under the mounting pressure, the Bulls struck back through returning winger Sbu Nkosi, whose try and Morne Steyn’s conversion brought Jake White’s troops back to within one point of the lead.
SBUUUUU! ?
It's a one point game thanks to Elrigh's offload, Sbu's finish and Morne's conversion?#BULvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/CyQkmDu9mW
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) February 18, 2023
A 73rd-minute drop goal from Libbok created a much-needed buffer as he extended the visitors’ lead to 23-19.
Slick from Libbok ?#BULvSTO | @Vodacom #URC | #UnitedWeRise pic.twitter.com/KcaSQoJtFL
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) February 18, 2023
Relentless pressure from the Bulls in the closing minutes was met with patient defence from the Stormers as the Capetonians looked set to see the game out as it started, only with the lead in hand this time.
A penalty for the visitors deep into their half momentarily dashed the Bulls’ hopes, but a knock-on from the resulting penalty gave the Bulls a scrum in a favourable position. Another penalty came from the subsequent maul set by the hosts, but the second maul attempt was better defended by the Stormers.
Losing territory under pressure from the visitors, the Bulls became isolated, and a sharp steal from Stormers lock Ruben van Heerden regained possession before he did the honours kicking the ball into touch for the victory.
Photo: @THESTORMERS/Twitter