mens
united-rugby-championship
Defending United Rugby Championship champions Leinster have been thrashed by Stormers on the opening night time of the 2025-26 season, with the hosts working up a 35-0 scoreline in Cape City.
Jurie Matthee was on the coronary heart of a surprisingly one-sided consequence, kicking 15 factors and sliding over for the final of his facet’s 4 tries.
Leinster, with out their British and Irish Lions contingent, merely by no means bought going and have been blown away within the second half as Stefan Ungerer, Evan Roos, Ruan Ackermann and Matthee all went over to seal a bonus level.
Stormers held a modest 6-0 lead on the interval, Matthee slotting two penalties however lacking two extra in addition to a drop-goal try.
However the Irish facet’s incapacity to supply any scoring menace price them as their South African opponents broke issues open within the forty fourth minute, Seabelo Senatla stealing a unfastened kick and feeding Ungerer, who pressured his approach underneath the posts for the primary strive of the brand new marketing campaign.
Max Deegan and Tommy O’Brien both collected yellow cards as things continued to go awry, Roos and Ackermann taking advantage of the space. Matthee converted both then added his own finishing touch nine minutes from time.
