Lethal Leinster lash Stormers
01/25/2025 02:05 PM
Dan Sheehan and Andrew Osborne each scored a brace of tries as unbeaten Leinster put the Stormers to the sword in Dublin on Saturday.
They both crossed the whitewash either side of the break at the Aviva Stadium as Leinster converted a 15-7 half-time lead into a bonus-point 36-12 victory.
The result extended the Irish giants' winning streak in the Vodacom URC this season to 10 matches after as many rounds of the competition.
The Stormers were unbeaten against Leinster in three previous meetings, including a draw in Dublin in 2023, but they will return to Cape Town 0-2 after their Investec Champions Cup defeat to French outfit Racing 92 last week.
Two first-half tries from right winger Osborne and hooker Sheehan – who was making his season debut – and five points from the boot of Ross Byrne powered Leinster in front, while a converted Ben Loader try kept the visitors within touching distance at the break.
The Stormers speedster soared over in the right corner midway through the opening stanza after flyhalf Manie Libbok and fullback Warrick Gelant quickly shifted the ball wide.
Make space for the pace on the wing #LEIvSTO | @Vodacom | #URCpic.twitter.com/nw3BtnT6By
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But a misfiring lineout and poor handling at key moments inside the first 40 minutes would've left Stormers boss John Dobson and his support staff pulling their hair out in the coaches' box.
Dobson, too, will be sweating over the fitness of Libbok and lock JD Schickerling, who both substituted before the interval with what looked to be knee and shoulder injuries, respectively.
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TRY!
The DHL @THESTORMERS hit back #LEIvSTO | @Vodacom#URC | #VUpYourSummerpic.twitter.com/CgvKQfasMz
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All Blacks star Jordie Barrett notched Leinster's third try of the match from close range after the restart, and Byrne added the extras to extend their lead to 15 points as the game entered the final quarter.
Sheehan's second try in the 61st minute secured the bonus point for Leo Cullen's charges, before Osborne touched down in the endzone to cap off an emphatic win for the home side. Stormers No 8 Evan Roos pulled one back at the death but it was too little, too late for the men from the Republic.
The Stormers return to action in two weeks' time for a rescheduled round 1 clash against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium, while Leinster face Ospreys in Swansea when the full URC schedule resumes on the weekend of 13 and 14 February.
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