LIVE: DHL Stormers v Vodacom Bulls
The DHL Stormers are back in action this weekend as they face the Vodacom Bulls in a Vodacom United Rugby Championship North-South showdown at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.
Steven Kitshoff, Herschel Jantjies and Damian Willemse will all make their first appearances in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, with Kitshoff and Salmaan Moerat the co-captains for the DHL Stormers.
0 – Kick-ff at Loftus and DHL Stormers have some early possession as they take the game to the Bulls.
2 – Ntubeni enters the ruck from the side with the DHL Stormers on the attack, so the Bulls kick for touch.
4 – Bulls carry it up and Kitshoff does not roll away so Bulls kick for the corner and look for the try.
6 – Great maul defence and the DHL Stormers win it back. Libbok kicks long and finds touch on halfway.
8 – DHL Stormers maul this time and win advantage. The forwards do their thing with a strong maul and then the backs get involved, with @Seabelo_Senatla pouncing on a grubber from Manie Libbok to score the opening try to make it 5-0.
11 – First scrum and it is a big statement from the pack as they keep it in and win a penalty. Libbok takes aim at the poles from halfway and makes no mistake to take the lead out to 8-0.
14 – Penalties at the breakdown go both ways, with Steven Kitshoff forced to hold on and the Bulls kick for touch again.
17 – Bulls go to the backline and a big tackle from Sazi Sandi gives Deon Fourie the chance to make a turnover.
19 – Bulls come away with it from a line-out and drive through the 22, but it is lost forward so the DHL Stormers have a scrum on the tryline.
21 – Another scrum penalty and Jantjies takes it quickly and releases the backline but it is lost forward on the 10m, so the Bulls have the scrum this time.
22 – Bulls win a scrum penalty this time and Smith will kick for poles this time but he pulls it wide so still no score for the Bulls.
26 – Bulls kick high and Willemse is there and makes a 50-22 kick to give the DHL Stormers an attacking scrum. They are awarded a penalty as the Bulls go offside and Libbok kicks it over to make it 11-0.
29 – Libbok this time with a kick to the corner from a scrum and the Bulls are right back on their tryline.
31 – DHL Stormers on the rampage and it’s a ‘kyk weer’ at Loftus as a Manie Libbok grubber sets up a second try for Seabelo Senatla. The flyhalf adds the touchline conversion too for good measure to make it 18-0.
33 – DHL Stormers on the front foot again but it is lost forward by Sandi and the Bulls break out. Petersen off his feet at the breakdown so the Bulls kick for the corner.
36 – Bulls on the tryline, but Deon Fourie is played off the ball so the DHL Stormers can clear it. Bulls win the line-out and run it back but lost forward in the tackle so DHL Stormers have the scrum.
39 – DHL Stormers defending desperately and three penalties in a row means a yellow card for Ernst van Rhyn. The Bulls maul and score on the stroke if half-time to make it 18-7 at the break.
42 – Second half underway, with the Bulls making a few changes at half-time. Bulls win a scrum penalty against the 7-man pack and kick to the corner.
44 – Great maul defence and the DHL Stormers win it back and clear it.
46 – Bulls forced back into their 22 and kick it then go offside. Libbok has a shot at goal from inside his own half but it goes just wide.
48 – Bulls run it wide, using their extra man to good effect. Senatla offside so Steyn kicks to the corner.
50 – Great maul defence again and it is Senatla who wins the turnover. DHL Stormers back to 15 as Van Rhyn returns.
52 – Throw from Ntubeni is not straight so the Bulls scrum. They run a set move and it is wing Madosh Tambwe who scores to make it 18-14.
55 – Both teams kicking for position now as we approach the hour mark.
57 – Cross-kick from Steyn sees Papier go over and the TMO can’t check that because of technical difficulties. That gives the home side the lead for the first time today.
60 – Bulls win a scrum penalty and kick for the corner as they look for another try.
64 – Elrigh Louw is taken down and gets up and goes again to score as the home team stretch their lead.
66 – Incredible vision from Warrick Gelant who rounds his man and then puts a grubber on the inside for Herschel Jantjies to score. Just three points in it at Loftus. Game-on.
70 – Bulls with a penalty in front of the poles and they kick for the corner.
75 – The DHL Stormers come up with the goods when it matters. Replacement scrumhalf Paul de Wet with the try to give them the lead back at the death.
80 – They have done it! The DHL Stormers have scored four tries to claim a 30-26 win against the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. Incredible character from the team to walk away with a full-house of five points. Bring on next week!
