Stormers punish sleepy Scarlets

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The DHL Stormers marked the return of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with a sensational performance earning the hosts a bonus-point victory over Scarlets in Cape Town on Friday.

While the Scarlets struck back in the second half, the Stormers by that stage had already wrapped up the bonus point by lighting up Cape Town Stadium in the first half, earning a 36-19 victory in the end.

Such was the way that the Stormers carved through the Scarlets’ defence, that the game felt a bit like an exhibition. From the moment Herschel Jantjies sniped over in the 14th minute, to when Hacjivah Dayimani ran a good 40m to score in the 35th, the Stormers seemed like an unstoppable force in the first half.

What will be pleasing for the Stormers coaches was how members of the wider squad fared in the absence of the Springboks.

Centre Cornel Smit, flyhalf Kade Wolhuter and loose forward Marcel Theunissen all performed admirably, with Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok and Evan Roos on national duty.

Wolhuter, in for his first Vodacom United Rugby Championship start, used his booming boot to good effect and combined well with Clayton Blommetjies to get the Stormers on the front foot. Smit was equally influential and memorably put midfield partner Dan du Plessis over for a second half try with a brilliant offload.

The Stormers move on to face another Welsh outfit Dragons in Gqeberha next Saturday.

Photo: ©Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

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Dylan Jack