Stormers players celebrate after scoring a try against Aviron Bayonnais in their Champions Cup match in France. Picture: Gaizka IROZ / AFP The Stormers emerged from the opening weekend of European Professional Club Rugby action with a win, while the Bulls, Sharks, Lions and Cheetahs all stumbled in their respective fixtures. The Capetonians extended their unbeaten run with a hard-fought, if imperfect,26-17 Champions Cup victory over Aviron Bayonnaisin France.
Despite the result, they sit third in pool 3, with La Rochelle and Leinster both claiming bonus-point wins. A 20-minute red card to lock Adré Smith, along with a yellow to wing Leolin Zas, nearly swung the match in Bayonne’s favour. The hosts scored twice during that period, but two yellows of their own shifted momentum back to the visitors.
It was a seventh straight win for the Stormers, with flyhalf Clinton Swart contributing two conversions and four penalties for a 16-point haul. They next face La Rochelle – 39-20 winners over Leicester Tigers – at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. The Bulls, meanwhile, squandered a 33-22 half-time lead against Union Bordeaux Bègles at Loftus.
Read Full Article on The Citizen
[paywall]
Two yellow cards for deliberate knock-ons left them exposed as the defending champions ran in24 unanswered pointsto win 46-33. Head coach Johan Ackermannlamented the discipline issues and inconsistency, noting how the Bulls could score five tries in one half yet concede soft points in the next. “We look so good at moments and then we look average,” Ackermann said.
“The inconsistency in all our areas is challenging. Sometimes it’s an individual mistake, sometimes a system mistake.” He added that the late return of several Springboks had affected cohesion, suggesting more preparation time would have produced a settled performance. The Bulls now travel to Franklin’s Gardens to face Northampton Saints.
Meanwhile, a second-string Sharks side werethrashed 56-19 by Toulousein their Champions Cup match at Stade Ernest Wallon. The Sharks rested their best ahead of next week’s home game against Saracens, and their fringe players were good in periods. But they were outclassed and would have lost more heavily if Toulouse had not made errors.
[/paywall]
