In a dazzling display of rugby prowess, the Stormers routed Sale Sharks 40-0 in a resounding victory at the DHL Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
With this emphatic win, the Cape-based side rekindles their hopes of securing a spot in the knockout stages of the Champions Cup, contingent upon favourable outcomes in other matches.
Six tries and five points at home. #STOvSAL #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/ZHwdNbetl9
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 11, 2025
The clash began with the Stormers needing to withstand an early onslaught from the Sharks, who pressed hard in the opening quarter. But instead of succumbing, the Stormers demonstrated resilience, holding firm against numerous attacks right on their try line.
Director of Rugby John Dobson praised his team’s defensive resolve during those initial minutes.
“We imposed our game model properly.”
“We imposed our game model properly. They could've gotten a couple of points on us at the start, but we had to defend. What we really got right today was the transition from defence to attack.”
It was during this period of defensive dedication that JD Schickerling broke the deadlock for the Stormers. After a fantastic break by outside centre Wandisile Simelane, who danced past would-be defenders before offloading to the towering lock, Schickerling scored in his 50th Stormers cap.
This pivotal moment swung the momentum in favour of the home team.
Shortly afterwards, flyhalf Manie Libbok doubled the lead with a spectacular length-of-the-field try. The move was triggered by the Sharks losing possession, allowing scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer to launch a high kick that Libbok expertly chased down.
Individual brilliance from Manie Libbok 💫💫
The DHL Stormers lead 14-0 at half-time in Cape Town 🌩️
📺 Stream #InvestecChampionsCup on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/D0P9lQtjdc
Displaying remarkable agility, Libbok sidestepped the last defender, sprinting 60 metres to dot down under the poles.
Despite a growing penalty count that included the sending-off of Stormers prop Frans Malherbe, the home side maintained their composure.
Replacement tighthead Neethling Fouche stepped in and immediately stabilised the scrum, earning a crucial penalty. Even with this challenge, the Sharks struggled to mount any serious threat in the second half.
Dominance in Cape Town 😮💨@THESTORMERS get a bonus point win over Sale Sharks, keeping the English club scoreless 🔥
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As the game progressed, the Stormers highlighted their attacking flair, with Sale’s indiscretions leading to two yellow cards that dramatically tilted the balance in favour of the hosts. This advantage allowed the Stormers to run rampant, scoring four additional tries, including efforts from prop Sti Sithole, Player of the Match Warrick Gelant, replacement scrumhalf Paul de Wet, and replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter.
Pushing the tally to 40-0, the Stormers not only secured the victory but did so with style, underlining their attacking potential as they eye a critical final fixture against Racing 92.
Chasing a place in the next round, their performance serves as a reminder of their capabilities and resilience, even as they prepare to rest a few key players in the upcoming match.
The Stormers will now look ahead with renewed optimism as their playoff destiny hinges not only on their own performance but also on the results elsewhere in the tournament.
With the echoes of their victory still reverberating, fans can only hope that the momentum will carry them through to the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
Points scorers: Stormers 40 (14): Tries: JD Schickerling, Manie Libbok, Sti Sithole, Warrick Gelant, Paul de Wet, Andre-Hugo Venter. Conversions: Libbok (4), Jean-Luc du Plessis. Sale Sharks 0.