The DHL Stormers went down 38-21 in an entertaining clash with New Zealand in the opening match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour in front of 47,130 spectators at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
It was an impressive effort from the DHL Stormers, who were in the game until the last 15 minutes until several injuries to key players saw the All Blacks score four late tries to inflate their score.
The visitors struck first as they claimed advantage in the 22 and made use of it, with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scoring from a maul.
The DHL Stormers were not to be deterred and marched straight into opposition territory with a strong maul of their own.
New Zealand centre Anton Lienert-Brown was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Jonny Roche and his teammate Simon Parker followed to the sin-bin shortly afterwards, after an infringement at a maul.
The DHL Stormers took advantage after an initial maul try by Andre-Hugo Venter was disallowed, but made sure at the second attempt, with veteran flanker Deon Fourie going over.
The conversion by debutant flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed levelled matters, and it looked like they would go into half-time deadlocked, but a try from Parker just before the break saw New Zealand claim a 14-7 advantage.
The home side came out firing in the second half and were back on level terms when Seabelo Senatla burst through from a set move to score under the poles.
Injuries to Dewaldt Duvenage and captain Ruhan Nel forced the DHL Stormers to juggle their resources, with Senatla playing scrumhalf and flank Hacjivah Dayimani moving to the wing.
New Zealand managed to take advantage by scoring a string of tries, although the hosts never stopped fighting and were awarded a penalty try when Warrick Gelant was tackled high in the act of scoring.
The end scoreline flattered the visitors somewhat after an entertaining game that saw the enthusiastic crowd engaged throughout.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers 21 (7) – Tries: Deon Fourie, Seabelo Senatla, Penalty try. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (2).
New Zealand 38 (14) – Tries: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Simon Parker, Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Asafo Aumua. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (3), Josh Jacomb.
Issued by SA Rugby Communications
