Stormers hooker André-Hugo Venter played a strong role in his side's opening URC victory over Connacht on Friday evening in Galway and was named Player of the Match.

Two tries by two Stormers debutants who came on late in the contest sealed five points on the road for the Cape side as they got their United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign off to a good start with a win over Connacht on Friday evening.

Replacement hooker Vernon Paulo powered over for the five-pointer that secured a seven-point lead, before replacement scrumhalf Ezekiel Ngobeni chased down a kick by winger Seabelo Senatla from their own half to secure the 29-15 victory in Galway.

It was a stuttering start to their URC season, but with injury disruptions to two key forwards, Evan Roos and Marcel Theunissen, before kick-off, they were already on the back foot.

However, looking back at how they dominated almost the entire first and second half, the visitors will kick themselves that they did not capitalise more on the chances they created with all the ball possession.

Throughout the game, there were ample chances to put the result to bed. Captain Ruhan Nel intercepted, but the communication between him and winger Leolin Zas on his inside was missing, and Connacht winger Mack Hansen made a try-saving tackle on Nel. Then, flyhalf Jurie Matthee knocked the ball on in a tackle after it looked like he had sprinted away for a try, only to be hauled in by Connacht’s flanker.

In the second half, winger Seabelo Senatla was held up over the try line, while another debutant, Yaqeen Ahmed, had his break for a score chalked off due to obstruction.

For their power display in the scrums and mauls, the Stormers held a 10-0 lead after 35 minutes, but they should have capitalised on that lead. Instead, and understandably at the start of the season, they squandered opportunity after opportunity with soft errors. Late in the first half, those missed chances and mistakes led to a Connacht fightback, and two tries brought the game to 12-10 at halftime.

But their rolling maul and scrums, and the ball carries from players like André-Hugo Venter, Louw Nel, Connor Evans and Hacjivah Dayimani ensured that the momentum stayed with the Cape side. Their solid defence also played a crucial part in the second half, and they kept the home side from crossing the try line again. Connacht could only slot a penalty to add to their halftime tally.

Although there were plenty of errors from the Stormers, they will take five points away from home, especially in a tricky place like Galway and at the start of the season. They’ve achieved half of their goal on tour, and now they can set their sights on Edinburgh for a second victory and full points from the first two matches of the new season.

Source: https://iol.co.za/sport/rugby/urc/2026-09-25-stormers-beat-connacht-29-15-to-start-urc-campaign-with-five-point-win/