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Stormers cruise past Benetton in Stellenbosch

By PA
Paul de Wet issues instructions for the Stormers. Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images

The Stormers consolidated a top-three finish in the United Rugby Championship by defeating Benetton 38-22 at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch.

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The reigning URC champions did not hit top gear, but they had more than enough to see off the European Challenge Cup semi-finalists.

Stormers will be at home in next month’s title play-offs, and they warmed up for that knockout phase by claiming a maximum five points.

Flanker Willie Engelbrecht scored two tries, while there were also touchdowns for wing Angelo Davids, hooker JJ Kotze, full-back Clayton Blommetjies and replacement Marcel Theunissen, with fly-half Manie Libbok kicking four conversions.

Benetton led until just before half-time and they claimed tries from back-row forwards Alessandro Izekor and Manuel Zuliani, with Tomas Albornoz adding one conversion and a penalty, while they also collected a late penalty try.

But Benetton never seriously threatened to upset the form guide, and they must now regroup before next weekend’s Challenge Cup last-four clash against Toulon in France.

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 12 minutes ago
Lion taming lock Franco Molina swaps Gallagher PREM for Super Rugby

Nice acquisition, Force were a Force last year until the starters tired, will make them a lot better.


Really nice to see them lure in another Argie as well, would love for the ‘Super’ leagues to be able to transfer players around together if they can’t enter a team into Super Rugby proper.

2 Go to comments
J
JW 20 minutes ago
Fissler Confidential: All Black to give Falcons wings

Finlay would be a great club man for Newcastle to launch off, he’s good with the loosies as well as being comfortable with quality 10’s. Would be a solid addition to Scotlands WC squad as well.

3 Go to comments
J
JW 21 minutes ago
Fissler Confidential: All Black to give Falcons wings

That’s an appropriate level for Newcastle.

3 Go to comments
J
JB 23 minutes ago
Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

That policy is for overseas based players. Leicester is home based now.

20 Go to comments
d
d 23 minutes ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

totally agree that this should be the route they take with Love. He has the confidence and the talent, but needs experience to temper the decision making, one area where it wouldn’t be hard to surpass both BB and DM.

123 Go to comments
J
JB 23 minutes ago
Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

If only there was a way to have watched his progress overseas?? Anyone able to think of one? Oh maybe it was televised?

20 Go to comments
J
JB 30 minutes ago
Leicester Fainga'anuku denied All Blacks eligibility for TRC

NZRFU continues to make mistakes. The guy is back and playing in NZ and they make more rules to block him. WTF just let him play!

20 Go to comments
S
SR 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Such as?

123 Go to comments
S
SR 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

It's hardly an obsession! Ok so he played LLB who's day I think is done .But 10 changes against France in 3rd game when France fielded what NH pundits said was far closer to a B team tann C with all but 3 players capped is hardly the yips.

123 Go to comments
S
SR 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

It was his first year no international experience and he learns fast and owns his mistakes. I'm pretty the hopeful were tracking in the right direction

Leroy Carter a definite for me. Lester's been playing midfield and we have Timoci as 12 as well

123 Go to comments
D
Derek Murray 1 hour ago
Harness Skelton's might and move Sua'ali'i: How the Wallabies can fix things for Test two

I like reading your stuff when it reinforces my less informed view. I have said all along we need to keep the game narrow and smash them with size. I’d have run Kerevi out for AUNZ to see if his good form in Japan stood the step up in class, and I’d never have had Williams ahead of LSL or Robertson ahead of Tupou.


I have assumed all along that Schmidt was smarter than other coaches but persisting with playing Ikitau away from a position where he is world’s best to accommodate JAS is frustrating at best.


Skelton and Valetini back in seems like we’re half pregnant - why not go all in?


It’s a grey Melbourne day here, and it’s predicted to rain all evening. The sort of game we’re likely to have will suit forwards who never stop and halves with great control. I suspect we’re bested in both, but will make some noise to encourage a different outcome than seems obvious.

58 Go to comments
O
Over the sideline 1 hour ago
Steve Hansen: The Boks are 'rolling the dice and so far they’ve got away with it'

What makes you think naming 1000 in squad makes the squad superior.? Quite simply… NZ could name 3 squads of 40 but it wouldn’t make the best side any better.

SA naming g U20s in there squad isn’t making the squad better. Its actually DILUTING the quality of the squad.

38 Go to comments
R
RS 1 hour ago
‘USA have a way to go to fulfil Moonshot mission but 2031 RWC will be a success’

Host having an automatic entry has always been moot since all RWCs thru 2027 have been hosted by Tier one countries.

7 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

No faith in your Boks aye? What are they going to think ready this in the comments section?

123 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

And BA takes New Zealand one up in the series..

123 Go to comments
G
GP 1 hour ago
New All Blacks locks squeezing captain Barrett out of contention

Scott Barrett does not deserve to be dropped. Patrick T. played well in recent series. But Scott is better and indeed played great in helping the Crusaders win Super Rugby. He should remain the captain as well.

80 Go to comments
R
RS 1 hour ago
‘USA have a way to go to fulfil Moonshot mission but 2031 RWC will be a success’

From the days of Dan Lyle and later Todd Clever I had said that the Eagles team would eventually be better when more of such US players starred in top competitions outside the USA. The US needs at least 10-20 such to be augmented by the MLR level player types now on the USA roster. They are only a few such on the Eagles roster now with a larger contingent unlikely to be there by 2031. The MLR might prove this point by staging a select side match at the end of its season pitting an “Eagles and Eagles eligible” team against a team of MLR “foreign import” players. The “Imports” would win a majority, perhaps overwhelming majority of such encounters. The MLR cannot afford to pay for an event such as this so might World Rugby fund it to help gauge the progress toward a “Tranquility Base” for USA Rugby at the 2031 RWC?

7 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

Do you see some standouts in the All Blacks do you?


I can’t say I see any in South Africa, either, myself. Maybe Kolbe and Roigard?

123 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

We started it first, schools hitting the headlines a few months ago.

123 Go to comments
J
JW 1 hour ago
Half-back depth is the flaw in 'Razor's' 4-4-4 Rugby World Cup plan

It grows each year.

123 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ How the Lions' injury-dogged 'Jukebox' Tadhg Furlong is still producing great hits How the Lions' injury-dogged 'Jukebox' Tadhg Furlong is still producing great hits