Connacht capitalise as yellow cards trip up Stormers in URC clash

Cape Town - Connacht produced a strong final-quarter performance to sink the Stormers 19-17 in their United Rugby Championship clash in Galway on Saturday.

The Stormers were forced to change things up before kick-off after Dan du Plessis was withdrawn from the match due to delayed post-concussion syndrome, with Damian Willemse, initially named at fullback, shifting to inside centre and Sergeal Petersen moving to 15.

Angelo Davids came into the starting line-up on the wing, while Cornal Smit took his spot on the bench.

It was a massively disappointing defeat for the South African side. It was a game they could have taken, but their efforts weren’t made any easier by a referee that appeared intent on finding errors in the South Africans’ play.

⚡️ @THESTORMERS strike first with some really good hands ⚡️#URC | #CONvSTO pic.twitter.com/XK7Z2H9PvI

Despite the referee’s hand going the way of the hosts at the scrum a few times early in the encounter, the Stormers’ set-pieces overall functioned well, with their maul particularly impressive.

Their defence was an absolute beauty in the opening half and it ensured that spirited attempts by Connacht - who enjoyed more possession and territory before the break - amounted to nothing in the opening quarter.

The men in blue produced some stunning defensive displays as they hit the Irish hard, kept them behind the gain line, and sprinkled that outstanding defensive performance with a few solid spot tackles.

The hosts did, however, manage to get a try in the 30th minute after bashing it up through their forwards.

The visitors got the first try after beautifully controlling play and working the ball through the hands with a few short passes between the forwards, before they sent it out wide