Sacha stars as Stormers complete Italian job

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Sacha Mngomezulu turned in a composed performance at inside centre to help the DHL Stormers claim a bonus-point victory over Zebre in their Vodacom United Rugby Championship tour-opener in Parma on Saturday.

Trusted with the goalkicking responsibilities in his first URC start, Mngomezulu scored a try, slotted three penalties and converted all four tries for a haul of 22 points as the Stormers claimed a 37-20 win.

Mngomezulu also assisted with the third try, pouncing on a loose ball from Zebre’s lineout, toeing it ahead, gathering it and offloading to put scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies over the tryline.

The Junior Springbok then scored the bonus-point try in effectively the final play of the game, running an excellent line on to Manie Libbok’s pass and reaching over to ground the ball.

It was the major positive in a game where the Stormers got off to a flying start through Junior Pokomela’s fourth-minute try, but struggled to cope with the crafty Italians’ tactics.

The expectation was that Zebre would keep ball in hand, but the hosts perhaps caught the Stormers off-guard with a number of high bombs, which the visitors struggled to deal with.

The game was largely stop-start and the second half became a shootout between the two opposition goalkickers, as both sides conceded plenty of free kicks and penalties.

Still unbeaten this season, the Stormers will next travel to Wales to take on Ospreys next Friday.

Photo: Twitter: @THESTORMERS

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Dylan Jack