URC

The Stormers beat the Bulls for the fifth successive time in the URC, while Connacht and the Sharks also sealed wins over Zebre and the Lions respectively.

A stunning return to Loftus for Sbu Nkosi as the winger scores his first try of the season! Scrum-half Herschel Jantjies floated a long pass out to the left wing, where the unmarked number eight Marcel Theunissen had a clear run to the line. What a welcome back by his home crowd in Pretoria! [Click here for teams and scorers](https://www.planetrugby.com/europe-united-rugby-championship-bulls-vs-stormers/2023-02-18/2201658/overview) The story of a first half that finished 7-7 was the Lions’ inability to capitalise on their dominance of territory and possession as fly-half Gianni Lombard missed three routine shots at goal. Tierney-Martin claimed a second maul try with backs, this time joining in as Connacht again looked to their set-piece to make the breakthrough. Libbok’s drop-goal in the 72nd minute further extended the Stormers’ lead and the visitors were able to withstand a late onslaught from the Bulls to claim a nail-biting victory. With their tails up, the Stormers appeared set to add to their tally, and the Bulls suffered a further setback when full-back David Kriel was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on as Neethling Fouche looked to put Du Plessis in down the left. Libbok added the extras with a superb touchline conversion, and the Springbok was also on target in the final minute of the half as the Stormers went ahead for the first time at 13-12, a lead they held at the break. There was a check for a forward pass in the build-up, but the TMO saw no offence, and the try was allowed to stand. The Bulls will have been disappointed to have trailed at half-time, having held the upper hand for much of the first half, but they found themselves on the back foot at the start of the second period as the Stormers pushed for more points under the Pretoria rain. As the scoreline suggests, the clash between last season’s finalists was a tense affair, but the Stormers held on for the win – their fifth successive one over their arch-rivals – to claim the spoils.