The DHL Stormers scored two late tries to claim a 29-15 bonus point win in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship opener against Connacht in Galway on Friday night.
Debutants Vernon Paolo and Ezekiel Ngobeni last scored in the last five minutes to see the DHL Stormers finish strong and take a full haul of five log points.
They had been struck a blow in the build-up to the game, with loose forwards Evan Roos (hamstring) and Marcel Theunissen (calf) both ruled out with injuries picked up in training in the week.
The visitors put the pressure on from kick-off and it paid off as captain Ruhan Nel grabbed an intercept and was eventually hauled down just short of the tryline.
Jurie Matthee knocked over a penalty to give them an early lead and they followed up with a try to go into double figures.
The forwards had earned the advantage and scrumhalf Andre Warner put it onto his toe, with Warrick Gelant collecting the grubber to score.
The home side managed to hold out and responded with two tries just before half-time to take a 12-10 lead into the break.
The DHL Stormers started the second half in the ascendency and looked certain to score, but Seabelo Senatla was held up in the corner.
Instead it would be the hosts to score next, as they kicked a penalty after Matthee had missed an attempt of his own.
However, the DHL Stormers made a number of changes up front and it paid off as a storming maul put them in position before replacement prop Sazi Sandi powered his way over to put them back in front at 17-15 with 20 minutes left.
They kept hammering away at the Connacht defence and it paid off late as Paolo and Ngobeni both crossed the whitewash to seal the bonus point win.
The scorers:
For Connacht:
Tries: Hansen, Ioane
Con: Gilbert
Pen: Gilbert
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Gelant, Sandi, Paolo, Ngobeni
Cons: Matthee 2, Ahmed
Pen: Matthee
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel (captain), 12 Jonathan Roche, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Louw Nel, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Gary Porter, 3 Neethling Fouché, 2 André-Hugo Venter, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Olly Reid, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Connor Evans, 20 Adré Smith, 21 Wandisile Simelane, 22 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 23 Yaqeen Ahmed.
