Jean-Luc du Plessis (Getty)
The Stormers, significantly depleted in terms of first-choice personnel, endured an incredibly difficult night in Belfast on Friday as Ulster defeated them 35-5.
FT | Ulster 35-5 Storms
It was always going to be a tough outing for the defending champions, but few would have anticipated that the competition would be so one-sided.
It didn’t help that the already thinned Stormers suffered a series of injuries in the first half with Springbok No 8 Evan Roos, hooker JJ Kotze and fly half Jean-Luc du Plessis all leaving the field injured.
That severely disrupted the Stormers and left them fighting for continuity and dominance throughout the park.
Ulster, meanwhile, was physical and clinical, getting the basics right as Bok legend Duane Vermeulen led his battles in contact and on the ground.
By halftime, the Stormers were down 21-0 after sending three downs, and there was no indication they could come back in the second period.
Manager John Dobson had warned earlier in the week that fans should not expect the gritty, fast-paced and enterprising counter-attack that Stormers supporters have grown accustomed to from their dazzling performances in Cape Town, and that proved to be true.
Kade Wolhuter was opening cover for the injured Du Plessis (he had started at fullback as a late switch for Clayton Blommetjies in another blow to the Stormers), but he did not have the incisive intent that Manie Libbok brings to this attack.
Instead, it all went a bit clunky, and the Stormers’ vague hopes of turning things around after the break were shaken when lock Ben Jason Dixon was shown a yellow card for a high strike in the 42nd minute.
By the time they finished, Ulster had made five tries and the Stormers had been bowled out long before the final whistle finally came.
There was a moment of comfort just before full time when Marcel Theunissen stepped up to try, ensuring the Stormers avoided going blank.
However, this was something to forget for Dobson and his champions, who failed miserably when pushed to the limit in terms of depth and wit.
Goalscorers:
Ulster 35 (21)
Attempts: Nathan Doak, Ben Moxham, Nick Timoney, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Michael Lowry
Conversions: Doak (4), John Cooney
Storms 5 (0)
Proof: Marcel Theunissen
