Published by on

The DHL Stormers looked to be cruising towards another comfortable home victory. Instead, they found themselves staring at the possibility of a damaging result before a 20-year-old flyhalf stepped up to rescue them, Cape {town} Etc reports.

Yaqeen Ahmed scored twice in the final 10 minutes to help the Stormers overcome the Scarlets 52-40 in an extraordinary Vodacom United Rugby Championship encounter at DHL Stadium on Saturday.

The hosts finished with eight tries, securing the try-scoring bonus point and all five log points available. However, the scoreline only tells part of the story, with the Stormers forced to withstand a spirited Welsh comeback in a contest that produced 14 tries and plenty of questions for the coaching staff.

At half-time, a Stormers victory appeared all but assured. By the 65th minute, the match had become a very different proposition.

Stormers let Scarlets back into the contest

A five-try first half put the Cape side firmly in control, with the Stormers taking a 33-14 advantage into the break. Yet even during that promising opening period, there were warning signs that their defensive organisation was not where it needed to be.

The Scarlets had opportunities to stay closer before the interval, only for a try by Ioan Jones to be ruled out following a forward pass. The Stormers then struck through Deon Fourie from an attacking lineout on the stroke of half-time, turning what could have been a much tighter contest into a 19-point deficit for the visitors.

That late first-half swing proved temporary comfort for the home supporters.

The Scarlets returned with renewed intent, and tries from Macs Page and centre Joe Roberts quickly reduced the gap. Roberts was particularly dangerous, repeatedly finding opportunities against a Stormers defence that struggled to close down space.

The Wales international completed his hat-trick in the 65th minute, bringing the scores level at 40-40 with 15 minutes remaining.

Suddenly, a match that had appeared to be heading towards a routine Stormers win was there for either team to take.

Injury disruption compounds Stormers’ problems

The Stormers’ difficulties were not limited to their defensive lapses. A mounting injury toll forced repeated changes, disrupting the team’s combinations and leaving players covering unfamiliar positions.

Hooker Andre-Hugo Venter went off in the first half, while replacement Lukhanyo Vokozela later left the field. With no recognised hooker available, the Stormers had to switch to uncontested scrums, removing one of their key advantages.

The changes affected other areas too. Cobus Reinach went off for a head injury assessment before returning, while Riley Norton moved from lock to blindside flank after Fourie was forced off.

Paul de Villiers, the Stormers captain and flanker, also had to take on throwing duties at the lineout, adding another complication to an already unsettled performance.

The visitors took advantage of the uncertainty, finding gaps with worrying regularity. The Stormers’ attacking quality remained evident, but their inability to control the match threatened to undo their earlier work.

Ahmed delivers when the pressure is highest

With the scores locked and momentum favouring the Scarlets, the Stormers needed someone to change the direction of the contest.

Ahmed answered the call.

The young flyhalf, who came off the bench while Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu remained on the field, showed impressive composure as the hosts built sustained pressure inside the Scarlets’ 22.

With seven minutes left, Ahmed surged over the line to break the deadlock and put the Stormers back in front.

The Scarlets were not prepared to surrender. They pushed forward in search of a response, but a dropped ball near the touchline gave the home side another opportunity. Leolin Zas kicked it ahead and chased, although an unfavourable bounce prevented him from gathering cleanly.

Ahmed was alert to the situation and collected the ball to score again, sealing the victory and ensuring the Stormers claimed the full complement of log points.

For the 20-year-old, it was a decisive contribution in a match that threatened to slip away from his team. His late intervention also provided a valuable learning experience under pressure.

Young prop Olly Reid had reason to celebrate too, scoring his first try in Stormers colours in his third appearance. Nineteen-year-old centre Markus Muller, meanwhile, experienced a demanding first start but showed composure during a chaotic afternoon.

There was no shortage of entertainment in Cape Town, with both sides producing moments of real quality.

One of the Stormers’ standout scores came through Feinberg-Mngomezulu, whose sharp footwork opened a gap before he delivered a superb reverse pass to put Page over. Jones also finished impressively in the corner for the Scarlets, diving to complete a well-worked attack.

However, the Stormers’ attacking highlights were accompanied by a performance that lacked the control expected of a side with their ambitions.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu had moments of brilliance but also made four handling errors, not all of which were forced. More broadly, the home side allowed the Scarlets to break through their defensive line too easily, even before injuries began to disrupt the team’s structure.

The Stormers have shown a tendency to turn matches into free-flowing shootouts when a more disciplined approach would serve them better. Against a side willing to exploit every opening, that approach can quickly become dangerous.

The injury disruption and uncontested scrums offer some context for the late wobble, but they do not erase the defensive shortcomings.

Ulster next as Stormers look to tighten up

The result will please director of rugby John Dobson, particularly because the Stormers managed to turn a precarious situation into a five-point haul. Yet the performance will require an honest review ahead of next week’s home fixture against Ulster.

Scoring eight tries is a significant attacking achievement, and Ahmed’s late brace provided a memorable finish. But conceding six tries and allowing a 19-point half-time lead to disappear will concern the coaching staff.

The Stormers escaped with the victory against the Scarlets. They may not be afforded the same margin for error next time.

If they are to build on Saturday’s result, improved defensive organisation, greater accuracy and better control of the basics will be essential.

Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp Channel for content worth tapping into! Click here to join! 

Also read:

Sensodyne users question switch from white paste to blue gel

Picture: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images

Article written by