Glasgow’s SA-inspired leadership humble Stormers in URC play-offs
Franco Smith shone the brightest, as a coach. His captain Kyle Steyn was not far behind and veteran No 8 Henco Venter was a machine. These three South Africans were at the fore of a dominant display from the defending champions in beating the Stormers 36-18 in the URC play-offs at Scotstoun, Glasgow.
Smith, the former Benetton and Italian national coach, has been a revelation at Glasgow. He is a former Springboks flyhalf/centre.
Steyn, who made the most carries for Glasgow (seven) is a former Maties and Griquas winger and Venter, 33, is one of those dogged travellers who found a rugby spiritual home at Glasgow.
The Warriors, who lose their first ever match-up with the Stormers 33-7, have now won their last five to the Stormers, including two successive quarter-final wins at Scotstoun.
Stormers winger Seabelo Senatla was the pick of the visiting backs, with two tries, 79 attacking metres, four defenders beaten and three line breaks.
Evan Roos, with 11, made the most carries of either side.
The Stormers missed 40 tackles and conceded 17 clean breaks and made just five clean breaks.
Winger Kyle Rowe scored a brace of tries as Glasgow converted a 19-13 half-time lead into a 36-18 victory, and second win over the Stormers this season.
FRANCO SMITH ON THE WARRIORS WIN
The Stormers, disjoined and defensively fragile, recovered from 14-3 to be a conversion kick away from leading 20-19 early in the second half, but the last 35 minutes were dominated by the hosts, despite the Stormers enjoying a 16-4 match penalty advantage and 65% of territory.
Rory Darge, with 23 tackles, was voted Player of the Match, but it could easily have been Venter or flyhalf Tom Jordan, who make a match high 100 metres on attack and beat eight defenders.
The Stormers scored early through Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s seventh-minute penalty, but their momentum stalled when captain Salmaan Moerat departed for a failed HIA in the seventh minute and speedster Seabelo Senatla received a yellow card for breakdown infringement.
Glasgow capitalised immediately, flanker Darge scoring from a clever lineout trick play, before Rowe finished brilliantly in the corner following Sione Tuipulotu’s well-executed grubber behind the Stormers defence.
Scrumhalf George Horne’s accurate boot extended the home side’s lead to 14-3, though Feinberg-Mngomezulu narrowed the gap with another penalty.
The visitors responded dramatically when Senatla, fresh from his sin-bin return, pounced on an unclaimed high ball and sprinted clear for a converted try under the posts.
However, South African No 8 Henco Venter restored Glasgow’s breathing space, spotting a gap around a collapsed maul to cross in the corner.
Injury concerns mounted for the Stormers when Dan du Plessis departed with a shoulder problem, forcing flyhalf Manie Libbok into the action and prompting a backline reshuffle with Feinberg-Mngomezulu moving to inside centre.
The Stormers briefly threatened early in the second half when Senatla completed his brace through slick interplay from Libbok and Warrick Gelant, but Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s missed conversion left Glasgow ahead 19-18.
Rowe quickly restored the title-holders’ advantage with his second try from close range before Glasgow seized control. Horne capped off a stunning breakout from a lineout turnover before converting his score to establish a commanding 33-18 lead.
The Stats
JOHN DOBSON ON THE STORMERS DEFEAT
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