We lacked a cutting edge in final third, admits Peel

By STEFFAN THOMAS

Stormers………..36pts

Tries: Jantjies 14, Zas 18, van Rhyn 22, Dayimani 35, du Plessis 41 Conversions: Wolhuter 15, 19, 36, 43 Penalties: Wolhuter 40

Scarlets………… 19pts

Tries: Conbeer 31, 54; Rogers 50 Conversions: D Jones 33, Patchell 51

DWAYNE Peel was left ruing the Scarlets' wastefulness in attack as they fell to their sixth defeat of the season against the Stormers in Cape Town.

The West Walians were blown away by the physicality of the defending champions during the first 40 but launched a second-half comeback only to butcher several giltedged opportunities.

And Peel insists a lack of a cutting edge in the final third has been letting them down all season. “I was just disappointed with some of our execution,” said the Scarlets head coach. “We had opportunities to score tries and we didn't do that. Some skill basics let us down and that for me was a disappointing element.”

Despite a shaky start the Stormers claimed the first try with their powerful ball carriers making significant headway, allowing Herschel Jantjies to sneak over. Kade Wolhuter converted, and the hosts were soon celebrating their second try.

An overthrown lineout by Dafydd Hughes went straight into the arms of a Stormers player with wing Leolin Zas showing tremendous pace to touch down. The Welsh club found themselves 19-0 with only a quarter of the match played with Ernst van Rhyn powering over.

Scarlets hit back with arguably the try of this United Rugby Championship season to date. A tremendous flick by Jonathan Davies released Johnny McNicholl who ghosted up the touchline. The Wales international turned inside before offloading to Gareth Davies who passed to Ryan Conbeer for the try.

The Stormers claimed their bonus point try through No 8 Hacjivah Daymani and it was more of the same during the early stages of the second-half with du Plessis running through some non-existent Scarlets defence for the home side's fifth try.

But Peel rang the changes and the Scarlets threw caution to the wind. Some slick handling down the blindside released Conbeer who linked up with Dan Davis who was tackled metres short of the line. The ball was recycled resulting in Tom Rogers crossing at the far lefthand corner.

Conbeer soon claimed his second with an excellent finish, but it was a case of too little too late.

TEAMS

STORMERS: Blommetjies 7; Davids 4 (Jantjies 7, 7), Smit 8, du Plessis 7, Zas 8; Wolhuter 7 (du Plessis 69, 5), de Wet 6 (Jantjies 3-10, 61, 7); Vermaak 7 (Lyons 54, 7), Dweba 8 (Venter 54, 7), Fouche 8 (Sandi 54, 7), van Rhyn 8, Porter 7 (Evans 66, 6), Pokomela 8 (Xaba 50, 7), Theunissen 7 (Dixon 59, 6), Dayimani 8. Not used: Kotze SCARLETS: McNicholl 8; Rogers 7 (Evans 69, 4), J Davies 6, Williams 5, Conbeer 8; D Jones 5 (Patchell 41, 6), G Davies 6; Thomas 5 (Mathias 43, 7), D Hughes 4 (T Davies 43, 3), O'Connor 6 (John 43, 5), Lousi 7, Price 4 (Thomson 43, 7), Shingler 5, Davis 6 (Lezana 59, 6), Kalamafoni 6 Not used: A Hughes

REFEREE: Eoghan Cross ATTENDANCE: 12,543

Star man

Dan du Plessis -Stormers