Springbok lock RG Snyman scores a try for Munster against the Stormers. Picture: Sportsfile/Getty Images
It was a tale of two halves for the Stormers as they almost caused a huge upset but were ultimately beaten 34-18 by a resurgent Munster team at Thomond Park in Limerick on Saturday night.
The Stormers will take a lot of heart from a fantastic first-half performance that saw them almost reach the break with a 15-0 lead, only for Munster to score an important try on the stroke of half-time before the home side powered back in the second period.
“We were proud of the boys with how they fought until the end,” said Stormers coach John Dobson.
“We think we could have been up more (at half-time) and we think that Manie’s (Libbock) try could have been awarded, but disappointed with our discipline in the second half which gave them 22-metre entries which we talked about the whole week.
“We got on the wrong side of the referee, no question, in the second half and paid the price.”
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The Stormers came storming out the blocks with fullback Warrick Gelant dotting down after good work from flyhalf Libbock, while wing Leolin Zas finished off a break from outside centre Ruhan Nel as they took a 12-0 lead after 22 minutes, with Libbock then getting over the line three minutes later only for the TMO to not see any grounding.
A Libbock penalty after 31 minutes then put them further ahead, but Munster hit back in the 40th minute as flank Jack O’Donoghue went over, with flyhalf Joey Carbery’s extras reducing the deficit to eight points.
The second half belonged to Munster as the Stormers struggled with discipline, giving away a host of penalties, while captain Salmaan Moerat was yellow carded for a lineout infringement.
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This allowed Munster to score tries through lock Jean Kleyn and hooker Niall Scannell, taking a 19-15 lead after 51 minutes.
A second to O’Donoghue then moved Munster more than a try up, while a penalty from Tim Swiel gave the Stormers their only points of the half, before Bok lock RG Snyman scored for Munster and replacement Ben Healy kicked a monster penalty to wrap up the result.
“What you saw on the field today was purely because of the effort during the week in preparation for this game and every other game,” explained Stormers team manager Chippie Solomon.
“We honestly believed we could come here and make history, because I do believe these players are on the verge of changing the fortune of Stormers rugby.”