Stormers flex might to fend off Stade Rochelais

The Stormers see off a spirited Stade Rochelais to make it two from two this season. 

The French side did well to calm the initial storm early in the second half, but Andre-Hugo Venter went over six minutes after the restart to get the hosts on the right tracks.

An illegal tackle gifted the Rochelais a lifeline - a man advantage they welcomed with open arms as Nikoloz Sutidze went over for the Stade Rochelais’ second of the afternoon. 

This only seemed to rile up the hosts though, and Maart was soon in for his brace. While it was the winger who swept in for the score, it was another try made in Feinberg-Mngomezulu. The fly-half’s goose-step was what set him free, before a head-turning no-look pass to Maart.

Warrick Gelant finished off another impressive Feinberg-Mngomezulu assist soon after too, with the Stormers putting real distance between the two.

It was distance that the Rochelais were keen to try and reduce, which they managed to do 13 minutes from time.

Nathan Bollengier fumbled one over despite some last ditch Stormers defending to bring the French side over the 20-point mark.

Marcel Theunissen really ended it as an affair 10 minutes from time when he broke through for the hosts. A valiant performance from a young Stade Rochelais side, but the Springbok expertise shines through in South Africa.