Fullback Warrick Gelant provided the attacking magic and a moment of defensive brilliance for the Stormers in their URC win over the Scarlets in Wales. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
The Stormers ended the weekend in a United Rugby Championship playoff spot after picking up a full house of points in their 29-17 win over the Scarlets in Llanelli.
After starting in 12th place, they jumped into seventh with the bonus-point victory in Wales.
With the Ospreys beating Connacht late on Saturday, the inaugural champions dropped into eighth, but reached a knockout spot and still hold their URC fate firmly in their hands with five rounds to go.
It took them a late score at Parc y Scarlets to snatch the five points, but director of rugby John Dobson was pleased with most of the performance.
He bemoaned the penalties they conceded, and how they almost chucked the win away with five minutes left.
The Scarlets were on the attack after turning over possession, and their replacement scrumhalf made a break.
A desperate tackle by fullback Warrick Gelant and a turnover penalty won by the Stormers’ star got them out of jail with the scoreline at 22-17.
A converted try would’ve meant a 24-22 lead to the home side.
“That was the game,” Dobson said on Saturday night about Gelant’s steal on the ground and getting the team out of jail with his bravery at the breakdown.
“When Archie Hughes made that break and they didn’t miss their kicks (at goal), we thought we were probably going to lose it on 75 minutes.
“Warrick has done about seven or eight of those steals this season, and when we saw him over the ball, we knew we were going to get it.
“But we should not be relying on that. It was disappointing that we found ourselves in that position.”
Dobson blamed the high penalty count, which allowed the Scarlets to get on top of them, but agreed that Gelant’s steal was the turning point.
The fullback was his magical self and was at the heart of the Stormers’ attacking play, and it allowed them to score four brilliant tries.
The one where he put Deon Fourie away was arguably the best of the night.
In the build-up, three out-the-back passes, one by Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and a double by lock Ruben van Heerden, and two dummy passes by Gelant set up the score.
“We scored two world-class tries, but the penalties and turnovers were a problem. That was frustrating,” Dobson said.
“As soon as we were under the pump, those defensive sets we put in – much like at Loftus (against the Bulls) – was massive... the ones in the late 60th and 70th minutes. We started hurting Scarlets defensively.
“I don’t know why we must wait until we are under pressure. The problem was the territory (they conceded), because of the penalties and giving the ball away at the breakdown.”
Points-Scorers
Stormers 29 (15): Tries: Ben Loader, Deon Fourie, Leolin Zas, André-Hugo Venter. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3). Penalty: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (1).
Scarlets 17 (7): Tries: Ellis Mee, Ioan Nicholas. Conversions: Ioan Lloyd (2). Penalty: Lloyd (1).