Stormers fly-half Jurie Matthee shoots a penalty as he impressed his coaches as cover for Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok against Racing 92 in the European Champions Cup match on Saturday. AFP
The Stormers coaches were proud with the fight the players showed against Racing 92 despite being light of a few stars against some world class international opponents.
Never stopped fighting, but not to be in Paris. #R92vSTO #iamastormer pic.twitter.com/HGkgOeV6Vj
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) January 18, 2025
It took a late 76th-minute try for the French giants to bury the Cape outfit, but the visitors will also look back on some missed opportunities on the attack, which prevented them from getting a famous win at the La Defense Arena in Paris.
Racing knocked the Stormers out of the Champions Cup with a 31-22 victory, and the result on Sunday evening between Sale Sharks and Toulon will determine if they qualify for the Challenge Cup or not.
“It was a disappointing loss in Paris, but there is lots to be proud of.”
“It was a disappointing loss in Paris, but there is lots to be proud of,” Stormers director of rugby John Dobson reflected after the clash.
“We showed plenty of fight. They were obviously fully loaded with some world-class players at scrumhalf, flyhalf, and outside centre.
“They had 11 internationals and we were light a couple. I thought at 24-22 we had every chance to win it and how we stayed in the fight was very refreshing.”
Dobson was happy with the individual performances of young players like flanker Paul de Villiers, centre Jonathan Roche and flyhalf Jurie Matthee as a backup to Springbok Manie Libbok.
Racing 92 weather the storm ⛈️
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 18, 2025
Will they be playing in the #InvestecChampionsCup or EPCR #ChallengeCupRugby Round of 16? 👀 Keep an eye on the results of Sale Sharks v RC Toulon tomorrow 🍿
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But, their inability to take scoring chances and some poor defending, especially in the first half and late in the second half, let them down.
Racing found it too easy to get around the outside of the Stormers’ defence, especially with outside centre Josua Tuisova punching holes up the middle. The Stormers scrum was again a strength in the first forty, but they could not sustain that pressure throughout the match.
“The scrum dominance was great in the first half but we really struggled with it in the second.”
“The scrum dominance was great in the first half but we really struggled with it in the second. I thought the ‘use it’ call (from the referee) came quickly when we tried to get the upper hand, especially on our ball.
“The lineout certainly wasn’t our best day. Between not getting those scrum penalties we played for and losing a couple of lineouts, that was probably the difference in the end.”
Stormers positives
— Rágnár Ván Töndérsön (@Slipcatch) January 19, 2025
Jurie Matthee very comfortable on the gainline. Jantjies looked sharp. Paul de Villiers look like a good investment. Marcell Theunissen is proper baller and quick. Evan Roos on his way back. Jonathan Roche is part of the future. I am happy, all good.
The Stormers picked up a couple of injuries and the one that saw hooker Joseph Dweba leave the field early was probably the most costly one.
Loose forward Evan Roos soldiered on through a cheekbone injury and will go for scans to determine the extent. Winger Suleiman suffered a suspected fractured hand and will also need an x-ray to see how bad it is.
There is some light at the end of the dark tunnel with various stars available for selection ahead of the United Rugby Championship clash against Leinster on Saturday.