The Stormers began their United Rugby Championship (URC) season with a bonus point win over Connacht, defeating them 29-15 at the Dexcom Stadium in Galway, Ireland, on September 26, 2026. Their performance mirrored that of the Springboks' series win over the All Blacks, with dominance in the scrums, impressive rolling and driving mauls, and smothering Connacht's attacks behind the advantage line with solid defense.
Connacht attempted to catch the Stormers off guard with quick handling and ball distribution, similar to the All Blacks, but the Stormers were prepared and overpowered them. The Irish side was also forced to play with 14 men for a period after prop Paul Doyle received a yellow card for failing to roll away from a tackle. The Stormers' center, Ruhan Nel, came close to scoring in the sixth minute, but Connacht's full-back, Mack Hansen, made a desperate last-ditch tackle to prevent Nel from reaching the goal line.
The Stormers took the lead through a penalty kick from fly-half Jurie Matthee, and they extended their advantage when full-back Warrick Gelant scored their first try. Gelant's try was set up by a period of sustained pressure and a well-placed kick from scrum-half André Warner. Matthee converted the try to make the score 10-0 in favor of the Stormers. Connacht responded with a try from Hansen, who marked his return from a foot injury with a score, and Sam Gilbert added the conversion to make the score 10-7.
The Stormers and Connacht were locked in a closely contested match at halftime, with the Irish side leading 12-10 after a try from Josh Ioane. However, the Stormers regained control of the game in the second half, with their superior physicality and match management paying off. The Stormers' prop, Sazi Sandi, scored their second try, and they took a 17-15 lead with 25 minutes remaining.
The Stormers sealed their win with two late tries from replacement hooker Vernon Paulo and replacement scrum-half Ezekiel Ngobeni. The Stormers' eighth try of the season was scored by replacement fly-half Yaqeen Ahmed, who also added the conversion to increase the lead. The win marked an impressive performance by the Stormers, who were without several key players, including returning Springboks Damian Willemse, Cheslin Kolbe, and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The Stormers' victory sets them up well for the rest of the URC season, with several key players expected to return from injury and international duty. The team's coach will be encouraged by the performance of his side, particularly in the second half, where they dominated Connacht. The win also marked a successful return to action for several Stormers players, including Gelant and Sandi.
The Stormers will look to build on this impressive win as they continue their URC campaign. With a strong squad and several key players returning from injury, they will be a team to watch in the competition. The Stormers' next match will be a test of their credentials, as they look to make a statement in the URC.
Key points
- The Stormers' win over Connacht marked a successful start to their URC season.
- The team's performance was impressive, with dominance in the scrums and solid defense.
- The Stormers will be boosted by the return of several key players from injury and international duty.
