LIVE: DHL Stormers v Emirates Lions
The DHL Stormers are in Joburg where they are up against the Emirates Lions as they look to extend their unbeaten run in 2022 to four games.
There are three changes to the DHL Stormers backline today, with Sergeal Petersen, Damian Willemse and Paul de Wet coming into the starting line-up. The only change among the forwards sees a fit-again David Meihuizen on the replacements bench.
Conditions are good in Joburg today, it is warm and an early kick-off, so fitness may well play a role at altitude, with the bench set to play an influential role in the second half.
0 – Game underway and Willemse drops the kick-off so the Lions have an early scrum in the 22. Good defence from the DHL Stormers as they force the knock.
3 – Good clearance from Gelant who finds touch in the Lions half. Lions maul shoved into touch so the DHL Stormers have an attacking opportunity.
6 – Sergeal Petersen breaks the line and he offloads to Kitshoff just short of the tryline but he loses it forward. Lions scrum and scramble it away into touch.
10 – Lions offside from a box-kick so Manie Libbok kicks it onto the corner as the DHL Stormers look for a try. Libbok tackled around the neck so he takes aim at the poles and puts the DHL Stormers 3-0 up.
13 – Both teams kicking for position. DHL Stormers come out trumps with a line-out just outside the 22. It’s a good maul, but it is not coming out so the Lions have a scrum on their 22.
16 – Good pressure from the DHL Stormers but s deliberate knock-down means the Lions can kick for touch. Great maul defence from the DHL Stormers wins the scrum in the 22.
20 – The home side get a breakdown penalty and manage to draw level through the boot of flyhalf Tiaan Swanepoel.
25 – DHL Stormers dominating territory and possession as they ask questions of the Lions defence. A cross-kick from Gelant is claimed by Willemse, but the ball rolls into touch in the 22.
27 – A strong maul from the DHL Stormers and they surge for the line. Brok Harris is over the tryline but it is held up.
29 – The DHL Stormers get their reward after dominating territory and possession. Brok Harris is held up over the line, but it goes to Hacjivah Dayimani runs in a spectacular individual try from the drop-out.
33 – DHL Stormers continue to ask questions in Lions territory, but the home side manage to turn it over on the 22 and clear.
36 – DHL Stormers with a breakdown penalty this time, but Libbok kicks it dead so the Lions have a scrum.
38 – Lions surge into the 22, but Deon Fourie make a crucial turnover so the DHL Stormers can clear the threat.
40 – Half-time in Joburg where the DHL Stormers have scored the only try of the match to take a 10-3 lead into the break. The heat is on and the second 40 mins will be tough, but our boys had the better of the game in the first half.
41 – Second half underway as the Lions find touch on halfway.
43 – Lions go offside early in the second half, so Manie Libbok kicks the penalty to make it a 10-point lead.
45 – Turnover from Fourie followed by a 50-22 from Libbok to put the DHL Stormers back on the attack.
47 – They run phases, creating some space on the outside and Seabelo Senatla goes over in the corner unnopposed to make it 18-3.
52 – They come from their own 22 this time, some great hands from forwards and backs before Sergeal Petersen finishes off a superb team try. The DHL Stormers have bolted out the blocks in the second half.
55 – Odendaal breaks through but is ankle-tapped and the DHL Stormers win another crucial turnover.
58 – DHL Stormers snap onto the attack again as they look for the bonus point, but the Lions win a turnover just outside the 22.
60 – DHL Stormers ringing the changes now as we gear up for a tough last 20 mins at altitude. Sandi, Venter, Du Plessis, Theunissen and Jantjies all on the pitch.
64 – Big shove from the Lions who win the penalty so they can kick for touch. Turnover from Adre Smith, but it is knocked on by Venter so Lions have another scrum.
67 – Another scrum penalty for the Lions and they kick for the corner as they look for another try.
69 – The line-out throw goes over the back so Libbok snaps it up. Lions off their feet at the breakdown so the DHL Stormers can clear.
72 – DHL Stormers showing good patience as they hammer away on the 22 and it eventually falls for Deon Fourie who scores the bonus point try.
77 – Lions score a consolation try from replacement scrumhalf Morne van den Berg, which makes it 32-10.
80 – Full-time in Joburg where the DHL Stormers have claimed a clinical 32-10 bonus-point win. That keeps our spot at the top of the SA Shield as we stay unbeaten in 2022.
