Stormers scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies scored two tries as they beat the Sharks 21-19 at the FNB Stadium on Sunday.
Dressed as Thor, the Stormers hammered coastal rivals the Sharks “Black Panther” in what was a typical stop-start pre-season friendly.
Jantjies, scorer of two tries, with the Stormers’ other one coming via his replacement Godlen Masimla, says: “It was a good run out, it was nice to take contact again and also good to see the things we did in training paying off.
“There are a few work- ons and hopefully we can improve on them by the time Super Rugby comes around we can hit the ground running.”
The Stormers didn’t hit the ground running on Sunday, with the Sharks having a try disallowed after Sbu Nkosi knocked on the ball in-goal.
Jantjies, who was responsible for giving the Sharks the attacking opportunity in the first place after he passed the ball over the deadball line, then made amends after finding a gap as big as Kimberley’s hole from a lineout maul. He simply cruised over the tryline after the hele Sharks backline shot up on defence.
The scrumhalf described the 26th minute try as “lucky” and would have counted himself fortunate again when he intercepted a Louis Screuder pass in the 52nd minute for his second.
Jantjies’s brace sandwiched two tries by Sharks wing Makazole Mapimpi, who collected a Lukhanyo Am chip kick in the 31st minute to make it 7-5 for the Stormers in the first half.
Nine minutes after the break, and four after the Sharks had another try disallowed for interference in the build-up, Mapimpi finished off a backline move to give his team a 12-7 lead before Jantjies regained the Stormers’ lead.
Masimla got on the scoresheet after collecting a Sergeal Petersen kick in the 71st minute, before Marius Louw dotted down for the Sharks to make it 21-19.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/STOvSHA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#STOvSHA #iamastormer #SuperHeroSunday🔵⚪️🔨
— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS)
The Bulls “Captain America” beat the Lions “Spiderman” 40-35 in the other clash.
Stormers – Tries:
Herschel Jantjies (2) and Godlen Masimla; Conversions: Damian Willemse (2) and Jean-Luc Du Plessis.
Sharks – Tries:
Makazole Mapimpi (2) and Marius Louw; Conversions: Curwin Bosch and Boeta Chamberlain.