Rugby fans couldn’t have asked for more drama at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday as the Stormers edged the Bulls with a narrow 19-16 victory, delivering excitement and tension worthy of any derby clash. Just as players and fans readied for kickoff, the match faced delays of 75 minutes due to heavy rain and lightning, leaving the playing surface soaked and challenging.
The conditions made for what turned out to be quite the spectacle, as this United Rugby Championship (URC) match unfolded under pressure. Players grappled with multiple errors as they attempted to navigate the slick pitch, causing numerous knock-ons, errant passes, and difficulties shaping coherent plays. Despite these challenges, both teams displayed remarkable intensity, akin to what one would expect from Test-level play.
It was the Stormers who delivered the final blow, with 12 minutes left on the clock, as former Bulls centre Wandisile Simelane clinched the match with a decisive try. His moment of glory came after flyhalf Jurie Matthee made his presence felt, launching a well-executed up-and-under. When the Bulls failed to secure the ball, Simelane seized the opportunity, hacked the loose ball forward, and won the race to score, placing the Capetonians 17-16 up. Matthee’s conversion solidified the lead at 19-16.
“Simelane hacked the loose ball ahead and won the race to die over and put the Capetonians 17-16 ahead, and Matthee slotted the conversion to make it 19-16,” commented match commentators encapsulating the thrill of the victory.
The Bulls, for their part, fought hard but could not regain the lead during the final ten minutes, even with several opportunities presenting themselves. Their clinching chances were thwarted by Stormers No 8 Evan Roos, who earned a penalty during the waning moments, key to resisting yet another Bulls onslaught deep within their 22.
Stormers coach John Dobson hailed the win as one of significant character, particularly as they entered the match as underdogs, holding the 10th position on the URC log against the Bulls, who were sitting third. Both teams exchanged penalties early, with Matthee and Bulls centre David Kriel managing to score four penalties each, leading to the Stormers holding a 12-9 advantage by halftime.
But the match took another turn as the Bulls secured their first try of the night when replacement lock Ruan Vermaak powered over after using the momentum from Nizaam Carr’s charge-off following a tap penalty. The Bulls looked promising, but without successful conversions, they struggled to capture the emphatic lead they desperately needed.
“The small margins...ultimately decided the match with the Bulls failing to deal with a high bomb,” articulated post-match analysts reflecting on the minute details of the game.
Regrettably for the Bulls, this match marked another disappointment, as they dropped two out of three derby matches at home, and it now counts as the eighth defeat within ten URC encounters against Dobson’s Stormers, including previous finals and quarter-finals. For the Bulls, this outcome presents challenges for securing one of the top two positions in the standings, even as they retain hopes for the top four.
Evan Roos, the standout player for the Stormers, delivered not just statistically superior performance, but one infused with significant emotion. Renowned for being powerful and consistent, Roos exemplified this during the match, showing great leadership and undertaking key defensive turns at pivotal moments.
“Roos has never been poor in the URC, but he has at times been inconsistent...most significantly he won the big moments,” noted Mark Keohane, highlighting Roos’ exceptional outing.
The dynamic between these two teams was clearly epitomized by the matchup’s outcome yesterday. With their first URC victory of the season against the Bulls secured, the Stormers reignited their quest for playoff contention, leaving fans and analysts alike buzzing for what this competition holds moving forward. While the storms subsided on the pitch, the fight for playoff positions is just ramping up as we move closer to the playoff stages.