The All Blacks scored six tries to beat a brave but battered Stormers outfit in the historic Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
New Zealand led 14-7 half-time, scoring two tries and playing with 13 men midway through after yellow cards for centre Anton Lienert-Brown and flanker Simon Parker, before four tries after the break helped steer the visitors to a 38-21 victory in front of a crowd of 47,130. Flyhalf Beauden Barrett kicked three conversions.
It was the first head to head meeting between the Stormers and All Blacks, with New Zealand having not played against a South African club side since the 1996 tour, and 50 years after Western Province famously beat the Kiwis 12-11 at Newlands.
ALSO: Nonu to tackle All Blacks
The All Blacks will now refocus a trip to Durban to face the Sharks at Kings Park on Tuesday in the second match of the eight-match series, but head coach Dave Rennie will be sweating over midfielder Billy Proctor, who was substituted soon after the restart with an arm injury.
John Dobson’s Stormers are next in action against Connacht in their Vodacom URC opener on 25 September.
The Stormers were forced into a late change, tighthead prop Sazi Sandi ruled out with a hamstring injury and replaced on the bench by Herman Lubbe.
Scrumhalf Imad Khan went down inside the first five minutes clutching his knee and limped off, with veteran Dewaldt Duvenage coming on in what is set to be his final professional appearance.
Duvenage also left the field late on with his right arm in a sling, after skipper Ruhan Nel didn’t return for the second 40 minutes and was seen pitchside with an icepack strapped to his left calf.
WATCH: Cape Crusaders give All Blacks advice
Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho barged over from close range for the All Blacks’ opening try, before yellow cards for Lienert-Brown and Parker followed in quick succession.
The latter was for illegal entry into a maul that saw a Stormers try, initially awarded to hooker André-Hugo Venter, chalked off for prop Neethling Fouché detaching early.
Veteran forward Deon Fourie, playing through a shoulder knock, emerged from a pile of bodies to score the Stormers’ reply, flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed converting on his debut to level matters at 7-7.
Parker atoned for his card with a try in the left corner before the break, Barrett’s conversion sending the All Blacks seven points up, although Ahmed skewed a drop-goal attempt wide on the stroke of half-time.
Stormers right winger Seabelo Senatla burst over from a lineout move early in the second half, Ahmed’s conversion levelling the scores again at 14-14.
𝐕𝐑𝐑𝐑𝐑….𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐀𝐀!
Seabelo Senatla is lightning quick for the All Blacks
Stream #RugbysGreatestRivalry on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/h7gb9anuna
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) August 7, 2026
The All Blacks then pulled clear in the final quarter, left winger Rieko Ioane, replacement hooker Leroy Carter and fullback Josh Moorby all crossing.
A penalty try for the Stormers, awarded after Moorby was sin-binned for a high tackle that denied No 15 Warrick Gelant a certain score, offered brief respite, before replacement hooker Asafo Aumua completed the scoring for the Kiwis in the dying moments.
STORMERS – Tries: Deon Fourie, Seabelo Senatla, penalty try. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (2).
ALL BLACKS – Tries: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Simon Parker, Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Asafo Aumua. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (3), Josh Jacomb.
Photo: Reuters/Esa Alexander
The post All Blacks battle past Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
The All Blacks scored six tries to beat a brave but battered Stormers outfit in the historic Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener at Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
The post All Blacks battle past Stormers appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
