Shakespeare said, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” and Stormers head coach John Dobson would agree as his title team was given a hard time by the gritty Lions at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday before rushing over the line to win 31-22.
The Lions’ recovery in this second URC has been predicated on their hard tackling, according to their defence coach, the Bok icon Jacque Fourie. For three-quarters of the game, they stymied the Stormers’ X-factor players, but the champions persevered and sailed to a bonus-point victory.
The Stormers were scrambling on defense from the start as the Lions exploded out of the blocks, and Henco van Wyk, the new boy on the block who has just been called up to the South African A team, caused the Stormers to concede penalties twice, which Jaden Hendrikse converted for an early 6-0 lead.
“The bus is full. Your ticket has expired.”
Angelo Davids packs a dynamite 🧨@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSTO @LionsRugbyCo pic.twitter.com/9E2TUxkQh3
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 29, 2022
The Stormers responded with a try by right wing Angelo Davids, but just before the infernal water break, Hendrikse converted his third penalty kick for a 9-7 lead.
However, the teenage flyhalf ruined his fine work with the boot when he was yellow-carded for a high tackle on scrumhalf Paul de Wet, and Libbok converted the subsequent penalty.
A few minutes later, though, the home team regained the lead when Sanele Nohamba kicked a penalty (in Hendrikse’s absence) and the diminutive scrumhalf extended the lead to 15-10 as the half-hour mark approached and Hendrikse returned from the sin bin.
The Lions then took a commanding 22-10 lead just before halftime when the red-hot Van Wyk scored a try that was set up by Emmanuel Tshituka’s excellent break.
Manie Libbok’s delicious kick creates carnage 🎯
Sacha Mngomezulu’s flat-line awareness 👌@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSTO @TheStormers pic.twitter.com/X3F5gwVoYA
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 29, 2022
Ten minutes into the second half, the Stormers changed their front row. Immediately, their struggling lineout improved, and from strong lineout possession, the pack scored, but the try was disallowed due to obstruction.
Moments later, another member of this country’s new generation, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, capitalized on a chip over the defense by Libbok, and then after a period in which they resolutely defended their line, they broke out and Clayton Blommetjies ghosted through the defense to give the visitors a 24-22 lead with ten minutes remaining.
Then, Van Wyk blemished his record with a high tackle in his own 22, the Stormers kicked to the corner, and Nama Xaba scored to seal the victory.
Scorers
Lions – Tries: Henco van Wyk. Penalties: Jaden Hendrikse (3). Sanele Nohamba (2). Conversions: Hendrikse.
Stormers – Tries: Angelo Davids, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Clayton Blommetjies, Nama Xaba. Conversions: Manie Libbok (4). Penalties: Libbok.