Following the Stormers’ 56-5 victory over Benetton, here are our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship clash.
The top line
A statement victory from the Stormers, who brushed aside a play-off chasing Benetton outfit in emphatic fashion, with the sensational Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu scoring in every manner possible for a 26-point personal haul.
Loosehead prop Sazi Sandi got the ball rolling for the hosts in the third minute with Feinberg-Mngomezulu knocking over the conversion, a penalty and a drop goal before providing a stunning pass to Dan du Plessis, who crossed for the second try of the game.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted Seabelo Senatla’s try after another penalty to take his first-half tally to 14, giving his side a 30-0 lead at the break.
Benetton started the second period brightly as Jacob Umaga made the hosts pay for an error from the restart, but that was the only trouble the Italians caused the scorers as they were well and truly shut out.
Marcel Theunissen, Leolin Zas and Paul de Villiers all grabbed second-half tries before Feinberg-Mngomezulu completed his full-house with the final try of the match as the Stormers issued a statement of intent and finished the weekend in sixth position.
John Dobson’s wrath
The Stormers boss is usually sporting a contagious smile, particularly when his side are on the winning side of the result but last week, he was absolutely seething after the victory over Connacht.
The defensive efforts of his charges left the usually cheerful coach fuming and while he made it clear that they would hear about it in the sheds afterwards, one has to assume that scolding extended into the week and to their credit, the players responded.
Benetton posed a huge threat with the excellent Umaga running the show at number 10 and the truly world-class centre pairing of Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello but the trio had were repeatedly shut down. The difference in the organisation and efforts of the Stormers’ defence was night and day from this week and last.
Throughout the match, one could not but help overhear the relentless chat from the Stormers players egging one another on and calling defensive roles. While tactics and systems are huge factors in a successful modern-day defence, the basics of communication and attitude remain crucial and that will be one of the most pleasing aspects of today’s shift for defence coach Norman Laker even with the poor start to the second half.
Ruthless Stormers
It was not just the defensive excellence of the Stormers but the attacking brilliance too. In the first half, in particular, it felt like the Capetonians scored with every entry into the Benetton half, never mind their 22.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant were chief orchestrators in Benetton’s demise as they not only weaved their magic with ball in hand but kicked outstandingly to pin the Italians in their own half.
The lineouts were sharp too as the Stormers looked very much like the team that won the inaugural United Rugby Championship. Dobson’s men had a home run to the final that year which won’t be the case this time around but on today’s evidence, they are launching a serious bid to clinch a second title after looking down and out not too long ago.
But Dobson will be quick to remind his charges of last week’s performance before they get too carried away.
Paul de Villiers
Something really special was needed to deny Feinberg-Mngomezulu another Man of the Match award and it came from the number six jumper as De Villiers put in an outstanding shift in just his second start of the season.
The former Junior Boks captain is been tutored by veteran Deon Fourie and it shows in his performances as he was outstanding at the breakdown, relentless with his ball carriers and went about his work at 100km/hr.
His shift came off the back of a blinder from Lions’ rising star Renzo du Plessis, who was included in the Springbok alignment camp, as South Africa flexes the incredible depth and talent the country has to offer.
In numbers, De Villiers topped the tackle count with 11 and won two turnovers (both match highs) while gaining 18 metres from his four carries and scored a try. Additionally, he completed five passes, one of which led to a try for Senatla. Frankly, the stats don’t do his performance justice. He has been a revelation in the last two matches and if the Stormers are to go deep into the tournament, he may well be crucial to their cause particularly with the side losing the services of blindside flanker Ben-Jason Dixon through injury.
Also a word for Stormers rookie loosehead prop Vernon Matongo who has been tipped for a bright career. He sorted the issues at scrum time, along with Brok Harris. At the age of 23, he still has plenty of time to develop into a real star that could plug Steven Kitshoff’s void.
Benetton’s setback
The Italian club are saved by results elsewhere as both Munster and Edinburgh stumbled this weekend, the former falling to Cardiff and the latter drawing with Zebre.
Ulster could still knock them out of the top eight if they defeat the Sharks but Michele Lamaro and his teammates will be well aware that today was nowhere near good enough.
Sure, the Stormers were brilliant and produced probably their best performance of the year but Benetton failed to adjust and ask different questions of the South African outfit.
They face two tough tasks when the league resumes after the Investec Champions Cup fixtures with Glasgow Warriors and Munster up next and a single point from today’s game would have done them a world of good. Alas, it was not to be.
As for the Stormers, they will fancy their chances of moving up the standings in the final fortnight of action with home games against Welsh outfits the Dragons and Cardiff but they will be very wary of the latter who will be riding a confidence wave after knocking over Munster.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/stormers-v-benetton-five-takeaways-as-john-dobsons-wrath-evident-while-sachas-full-house-guides-ruthless-hosts-to-statement-victory
