Willemse leads the way as Munster fall to Stormers in Cape Town

CAPE TOWN KING: DHL Stormers' Damian Willemse and Munster's Alex Kendellen and Jack O'Donoghue. Pic: Steve Haag Sports/Thinus Maritz/Inpho

URC: Stormers 34 Munster 19 

Double World Cup winner Damian Willemse proved to be the difference as the Stormers secured their first-ever United Rugby Championship win over Munster in a blustery Cape Town. 

The home side ran out 34-19 winners.

Willemse, usually fullback for the Boks, played flyhalf for his club and delivered a performance of exceptional quality and skill.

He contributed 12 points from three conversions, a penalty and a wonderfully taken drop-goal, but his direct running and silky handling also posed many problems.

Having missed the entire Rugby Championship through injury, he signalled he is has returned to his best, which was a timely boost for the Stormers.

The final score perhaps flattered the home team, thanks to Ruhan Nel’s injury-time interception try when Munster were trying to salvage something from the game, giving the Stormers a bonus point.

But Munster will rue their own mistakes – especially in a first half in which both sides were exceptionally sloppy. They had their chances, but paid for their largesse in the face of a much better second half performance from the Stormers.

It was the first time in five attempts that the Stormers have beaten Munster and it sent a message that their DHL Stadium stronghold will be difficult to breach this season.

After the break, the intensity lifted significantly, especially from the home side whose shuddering defence stopped Munster’s attacks at source.

Set pieces were also problematic for Munster. They lost six lineouts on their own ball and gave away three scrum penalties. The shortcomings were glaring and there will be some soul searching as they head to Durban to face the Sharks, who beat defending champions Glasgow earlier in the day.

Munster must have gone into halftime wondering how they were behind after dominating all but the last 10 minutes of the period.

Well, they didn’t need to ponder the reason for too long. An intercept pass that gifted the Stormers a try, three lost lineouts, a scrum penalty, three passes directly into touch and several other mistakes, allowed the home side a grip in the game.

Similarly, the Stormers offered gifts to Munster. They botched four first half lineouts, and made several handling errors, had a kick charged down that led to a try and gave away some soft penalties.

It was really a first half both sides would like to forget. Shambolic is the word that sprang to mind.

The Stormers opened the scoring when wing Suleiman Hartzenberg intercepted on his own 22-metre line. That was a gift, but the Stormers soon returned the favour.

After a speculative kick into Munster territory, Jack Crowley put in a superb long range punt. Willemse looked to have the situation under control but he dallied on his clearance and Shane Daly charged down.

Munster drove over Hartzenberg, who scrambled, and Tadgh Beirne casually slipped the ball to centre Tom Farrell who strolled over.

Munster took the lead minutes later after a powerful scrum earned a penalty. From the lineout, Munster set a great drive and hooker Eoghan Clarke, temporarily on the field while Niall Scannell was off, scored.

The Stormers though, finally gained some momentum in the game and spent a sustained period in Munster territory – their first real foray into the visitors’ territory.

Like Munster, the Stormers won a scrum penalty, kicked to the corner and several phases and another penalty later, scored through flank Marcel Theunissen. Willemse’s conversion gave them the lead at the break.

Directly after halftime, the Stormers gained the daylight they needed, with Nel scoring the first of his tries after a wonderful backline move.

Fullback Warrick Gelant and Suleiman combined to put Nel into space for a score that brought the 28000 to their feet.

Munster stayed in the game with a try for replacement centre Sean O’Brien but the home side would not be denied.

The Stormers worked their way back into Munster territory and won a penalty, which Willemse slotted. From the restart that failed to go 10 metres, the Stormers were back in Munster territory.

Through multiple phases, they put Willemse into the pocket, and he delivered the drop-goal that made the lead eight points and a bridge too far for Munster. Nel’s late try added the gloss.

Scorers for The Stormers: Tries: Suleiman Hartzenberg, Marcel Theunissen, Ruhan Nel (2). Conversions: Damian Willemse (3). Penalty: Willemse. Drop-goal: Willemse.

Scorers for Munster: Tries: Tom Farrell, Eoghan Clarke, Sean O’Brien. Conversions: Jack Crowley (2).

Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis (captain), 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 John Schickerling, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.

Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Jurie Matthee.

Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Seán O’Brien, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Jack O’Donoghue, 7 Alex Kendellen, 6 Tom Ahern, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 John Ryan, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 Jeremy Loughman.

Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Kieran Ryan, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Ruadhán Quinn, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Billy Burns, 23 Gavin Coombes.