The DHL Stormers XXIII secured a 36-28 Currie Cup victory over the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at DHL Stadium on Saturday, pulling clear in the final quarter of a stop-start contest that was nonetheless elevated by two outstanding performances from Junior World Championship winners Markus Muller and Luan Gilliomee.
The pair were teammates when the Junior Springboks lifted the title in Georgia recently. On Saturday they were on opposite sides, and both delivered moments that underlined why they are regarded as two of the country's most exciting emerging talents.
Gilliomee, who made his URC debut against Munster earlier this season and is set to join the Bulls at the end of December, was the sharper threat in the first half. He provided two brilliant assists that led to Sharks tries, with his deft touch on the short side setting up wing Lyle Matthews in the corner for the opening score, and a precise line off a pop pass from Tim Swiel creating the gap for scrumhalf Ross Braude later in the half.
Muller, who made his own URC debut for the Stormers as a replacement against Glasgow Warriors this season, answered with a try of his own that showed the balance and attacking quality that made him one of the most highly rated schoolboy talents to come through Craven Week last year.
The Stormers' path to the lead required some patience. The Sharks drew first blood through Matthews after a dominant early scrum, with Swiel converting for a 7-0 lead, but the Stormers responded quickly through hooker Vernon Paulo, who drove over after the hosts turned the scrum battle around. No 8 Wandile Mlaba then crossed from a lineout maul following another scrum penalty, with Kyle Smith's conversion pushing the Stormers to 14-7 in the 22nd minute.
The Sharks clawed back into the contest and controlled possession through the middle stages, making repeated entries into the Stormers' 22 without the returns they needed. The Stormers' discipline was a concern — they conceded seven first-half penalties to the Sharks' four — but their superior finishing in the closing quarter proved decisive, pulling them clear to win by eight points.
Mlaba, busy and effective throughout off the back of the Stormers scrum, was named the official man of the match. It was the Stormers' second win in three Currie Cup outings.