The DHL Stormers had to hold off a late comeback from the Emirates Lions to win a close Vodacom United Rugby Championship match 35-33 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg on Saturday after leading 35-14 with 20 minutes to go.
The Lions scored four late tries to grab two bonus points for their efforts, after they looked dead and buried and certainly looked the fitter side of the two at the end of the game.
Rising star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scored 16 points as he grabbed the man of the match award and gave notice that he is set for a big season ahead.
But the Stormers won’t be happy with their defence late in the game as they were made to sweat for the victory and they have some worries of their own as captain Salmaan Moerat, who just returned from a long term injury, left after 27 minutes with a shoulder injury.
Moerat didn’t look in too much discomfort at the end of the game and hopefully for the Stormers it was more a precaution than anything else.
For most of the game it looked like the more things change, the more they stay the same as the Stormers picked up where they left off last season and were impressive in their continuity and their ability to make tries almost out of nothing, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu thriving in an environment where he is expected to play a major role this season.
The youngster certainly has talent to burn and showed it by opening the Stormers' scoring by pouncing on a dropped pass to grubber, then toe, then knee and then collect a ball to score an excellent individual try.
Sacha Mngomezulu showing @Arsenal how it is done 😎⚽️@Vodacom #URC | #LIOvSTO pic.twitter.com/hr3mlmmJCT
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 21, 2023
PERFECT START FOR BOTHA IN 50TH GAME
He added a second in the second half when he ran a beauty of an attacking line to latch onto the perfect pass from Warrick Gelant and score untouched against a stunned Lions defence.
And while Mngomezulu was certainly the star of the show, the rest of the Stormers came to the party as they matched the Lions' physicality and won the moments that mattered.
Despite the late comeback, the Lions will be concerned with their own play for the first hour, and while the crowd was willing them on to try and complete an unbelievable comeback, they were outmatched for most of the game by their coastal opposition.
On the face of that alone it is difficult to see where they will challenge for a better season than last year, especially without the purchases that other sides have made and the depth that others have.
The Lions can field a competitive confident match-23 but if they get a few injuries there are serious questions about the depth they possess.
Still, Henco van Wyk, Quan Horn, Francke Horn and Ruan Venter are all players that should flourish as the season goes on and if Jordan Hendrikse can stay fit, they may well surprise us all.
The Lions did get to smile early on as PJ Botha went over from close range early in the game to open the scoring and cap his 50th game for the franchise in fine style.
But it was about the only good part of the first half for the Lions as the Stormers took control and found ways in, over and around the Lions defence.
EXCITING FINISH
Mngomezulu’s individual try was followed by a disallowed try for Herschelle Jantjies, as Clayton Blommetjies bobbled the ball forward in the crucial moment and penalties by Blommetjies and Mngomezulu put the Stormers further ahead.
Joseph Dweba stretched the scoreline even more with a breakaway try off the back of a rolling maul before Jantjies burst through just before the break to give his side a massive 27-7 lead at halftime.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's second early in the second half gave the Stormers their bonus point and it looked as if they would run away with the scoreline.
🎙'He is absolutely sensational people, this youngster has the world at his feet'
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 21, 2023
Sacha Mngomezulu scores again for @THESTORMERS! 😍@vodacom #URC | #LIOvSTO pic.twitter.com/aOeFWBYTNs
But the arrival of Van Wyk off the reserves bench buoyed the Lions backline and it wasn’t a surprise when he crashed over after straightening the line and using his physicality to power through a tackle.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a second long-range penalty just before the hour mark before the Lions started to gain some momentum.
It wasn’t long and another replacement - Ruan Venter - went over to score from the back of a rolling maul.
The Lions were then unlucky when Quan Horn was adjudged to be held up over the line and try wasn't allowed but made up for it when Morne van den Berg darted over from close range with eight minutes to go.
Francke Horne scored in the last minute to bring them within four points and ensure a more exciting finish than was expected for most of the game.
It is early season and there was more than enough for both sides to chew on. But you still had the feeling the Stormers may leave Johannesburg a lot happier than the home side with the points in the bag..
Scorers
Emirates Lions - tries: PJ Botha, Henco van Wyk, Ruan Venter, Morne van den Bergh, Francke Horn. Conversions: Jordan Hendrikse (4)
DHL Stormers - tries: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Joseph Dweba, Herschel Jantjies. Conversions: Clayton Blommetjies (3). Penalties: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Blommetjies.