In a thrilling pre-season showdown at Faure Street Stadium in Paarl, the Bulls stamped their authority over the Stormers with a robust 38-26 victory on Friday afternoon. Led by Johan Ackermann and featuring key players like Willie le Roux and Nizaam Carr, along with newcomer Hanro Liebenberg, the Bulls tested their new line-up while eyeing the upcoming season.
Stormers' coach John Dobson brought a mix of young talents and seasoned champions to the game, with Hacjivah Dayimani at the helm. Despite their efforts, the team first scored through Dylan Miller, who skillfully received a pass from Jurie Matthee, although the subsequent conversion was missed.
The Bulls quickly countered with Jeandré Rudolph barging in from a driving maul. Soon after, Stormers' Lleyton Davids dashed along the right sideline to put the home team back in front. Matthee’s successful conversion seemed to revive the Stormers’ spirits momentarily.
"We tried to blend experience with fresh energy, but the Bulls were relentless," said John Dobson.
However, the Bulls were not to be outdone. Hanro Liebenberg muscled his way over the line, and Ruben Groenewald's kick leveled the playing field. The Bulls edged ahead when Thaakir Abrahams latched onto a chip from Le Roux to score, although Groenewald missed the extra points, leading at 17-12 by halftime.
The tug-of-war continued into the second half as Miller again found the try line for the Stormers, with Matthee converting, giving the Stormers a temporary lead. The Bulls, however, hit back with Viaan Mentoor, who sliced through the defense, scoring and converting his own try.
A penalty try from a forceful maul put the Stormers back ahead briefly before the Bulls, showing no signs of fatigue, rallied back with JJ Theron and Sebastian de Klerk each hammering in a try. Mentoor’s successful conversions sealed a strong finish for the Bulls.
The Stormers are scheduled to kick off their United Rugby Championship campaign against Connacht in Galway, while the Bulls will face Zebre Parma in Italy, each looking to capitalize on their pre-season developments.
"We've got momentum now, and we plan to keep this intensity going into the season," expressed a determined Johan Ackermann after the game.
The match not only tested the depth and strategies of both teams but also set a competitive tone for their upcoming season challenges in the United Rugby Championship.
