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Ruthless Stormers sound ominous warning as they bury Benetton

rugby26 April 2025 19:02
By:Gavin Rich
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The DHL Stormers produced an imperious and ruthless performance that should sound an ominous warning to future opponents as they buried Benetton 56-5 in a one-sided Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash in front of an enthused DHL Stadium crowd on Saturday.

It was a resounding statement from the Stormers who suffocated their opponents out of the game from the kick-off and just never gave Benetton a look in as they scored seven tries to just one in reply.

After the Stormers struggled defensively and only just got out of jail courtesy of a TMO call against Connacht the previous week and Benetton put the Emirates Lions to the sword on the same day, the general expectation was that the Italian team would be a difficult obstacle to overcome.

That was a perception that grew further when Benetton announced a team that featured 15 players with international caps to their name.

However, with this week the Stormers quick off the line with their rush defence so that the opposition were constantly receiving the ball with Stormers players on top of them, the hosts brought the part that was missing against Connacht.

With flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu again at his flamboyant best with his attacking game, the Stormers effectively shut Benetton out of the game in the first 20 minutes.

That was how much time had gone in the game when Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicked his second penalty to go with a well taken drop-goal, which together with two converted tries propelled the Stormers into a 23-0 lead.

With Benetton effectively more than three converted tries behind, there was never going to be any way back for the visitors, particularly as it was obvious this was a day where Norman Laker’s defensive system had brought its A game to go with the enterprising attacking play of the hosts.

The first try was scored after just three minutes, with a patient buildup leading to tighthead prop Sazi Sandi scoring off an inside pass near the Benetton line from none other than Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Sandi had his scrumming problems later and he got on the wrong side of referee Adam Jones, with the yellow card he was shown in the 37th minute being the only Stormers blemish of the opening 40 minutes.

BRILLIANT BREAK

Then came the first Feinberg penalty followed shortly by his drop-goal to take the Stormers to 13-0 after 14 minutes.

A minute later the Stormers flyhalf was taken out in the air and he quickly tapped the penalty to put centre Dan du Plessis in for the second Stormers try.

It was 20-0 after quarter of an hour and was stretched further by the second penalty five minutes later.

Damian Willemse was forced off briefly to have a facial cut attended to, and in the time he was off his replacement Suleiman Hartzenberg produced a brilliant break to put in the always looking for work wing Seabelo Senatla after 33 minutes.

The Stormers led 30-0 at halftime and the only remaining question to be answered was the four-try bonus point.

That came just a minute after Benetton had started the second half by scoring their only try, and indeed points of the game through flyhalf Jacob Umaga.

No sooner had that try been scored than Stormers looseforward Marcel Theunissen wriggled over the line to make sure this would be a day the Stormers would pick up an invaluable five points that propels the Stormers to sixth on the log with two home games to come.

A Leolin Zas intercept try that blunted one of Benetton’s rare attacking moments continued the rout and then Paul de Villiers capped another fine performance to take the Stormers to one point short of the 50 mark.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the conversion but then dropped in for the Stormers’ final try to complete his own enterprising performance and a completely dominant 80 minutes for his team.

Scores

DHL Stormers 56 - Tries: Sazi Sandi, Dan du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla, Marcel Theunissen, Leolin Zas, Paul de Villiers and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu; Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 6; Penalties: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2; Drop-goal: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Benetton 5 - Try: Jacob Umaga.

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