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Masterclass from young pivot keeps Stormers unbeaten

football25 October 2025 19:21| © SuperSport
By:Brenden Nel
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DHL Stormers flyhalf Jurie Matthee put on a career-defining performance, scoring 21 points as his side kept up their incredible start to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with an impressive 31-16 win over Benetton in Treviso on Saturday night.

This means the Stormers keep up their impressive unbeaten run in the competition after five rounds and currently sit on top of the log with the other unbeaten side in the competition - Munster - still to play.

Still, the win was not only noteworthy because they had lost at the same venue last season, but also the way it was achieved and the fact that it was Benetton’s first loss at home for a full calendar year, which is rather remarkable in a competition like the URC.

Matthee’s performance was the classical flyhalf dominance. He controlled the game superbly, scored a try, kicked four penalties and two conversions to keep the scoreboard ticking over when it mattered the most.

UNBEATEN TOUR

In all the Stormers ended their tour unbeaten, a massive step forward for them as they perennially have struggled abroad, but also have set the pace in this URC season and have found ways to win where in the past they have struggled.

Their scrum, their play at the rucks and their ability to strike when it counts have been key factors.

The fact that after three out of five games abroad, they have managed to keep their opposition down to less than 20 points is also something special.

Norman Laker will be extremely proud of the defensive performance put out by the side on the tour, and especially against a dangerous attacking side like Benetton.

The win was impressive not only because it was away from home, but because of the game management the Stormers showed under pressure and while it may not have looked like it at the beginning of the season, it will take a tough team to stop the momentum they now have on their side.

Matthee has often fallen in the shadow of the more illustrious of his playmaker counterparts at the franchise as Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu Damian Willemse and Warrick Gelant and others tend to steal the limelight.

MATTHEE’S GAME MANAGEMENT TOPS

But on Saturday night the young pivot displayed all the hallmarks of a complete 10. His running style, game management and decision taking were superb, not to mention his kicking which kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Considering the Stormers were 16-8 behind at the break, it is hardly surprising that he gets such praise.

As we have seen with other South African franchises, the ability to dominate away from home is not always as easy as it seems.

Still, they were in control early on but let it slip as Benetton grabbed the momentum in the first half.

But the second half belonged firmly to the visitors as they took control and enjoyed the lead until the final whistle.

It was Sazi Sandi - in only his second try for the Stormers - who opened the visitors' account in Treviso, peeling off the back of a maul and surging ahead to score the opening try.

The Stormers weren’t able to get more ascendancy as Benetton started racking up penalties against the visitors, and moving forward with every shrill blast of the whistle.

Jacob Umaga sent the first two home to take back the lead 6-5.

Umaga and Matthee swopped penalties but there was a clear momentum shift for the home side and it was underlined when Ignatio Mendi started a counter attack that led to Tommaso Menoncello drawing the defence before sending a skip pass to his midfield partner, Leonardo Marin, who ran 30 metres untouched to score.

STRONG SECOND HALF

That left matters 16-8 to the home side at the break, but the Stormers weren’t going to go quietly into the night, and the second half gave them the opportunity to haul that lead in.

It took just eight minutes into the second half for that shift to come. New Bok call-up Zach Porthen managed a superb turnover and the ball was shifted left and right.

Eventually when it popped back to Matthee there was a gap the size of Table Mountain in front of him and he wasn’t going to let it slide.

He added another penalty a few minutes later and it was clear the Stormers were in charge.

While Benetton scored a late try, it was disallowed and the Stormers kept marching upfield, clinching the win with a Porthen try at the death, with another Matthee penalty eight minutes earlier keeping the pressure up.

The first phase of the URC is over and players will head to their national teams, but for John Dobson the first five games couldn’t have gone better, and Matthee’s performance on the night underlined that.

Scorers

Benetton - tries: Louis Lynagh. Conversion: Jacob Umaga. Penalties: Umaga (3).

DHL Stormers - tries: Sazi Sandi, Jurie Matthee, Zac Porthen. Conversions: Matthee (2). Penalties: Matthee (4)

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