TOP OF THE POPS

THE STORMERS remained top of the pops in the United Rugby Championship standings after klapping Zebre 31-13 in Parma on Saturday.  

It was a fourth straight win of the season for the Kapenaars, and second on tour as they have now clinched 19 out of a possible 20 log points this season.  

Despite another dominant display by their forward pack and on defence, it is clear that the Stormers are not yet operating at full efficiency when it comes to their attacking game.

The Kaapse span should have had a more comfortable lead than just the 12-7 scoreline at the break.

This after they struck first through another powerful lineout maul as loose forward Paul de Villiers crashed over for his third try in four games.

Coach John Dobson’s manne looked in full control and peppered the Zebre try line with wave after wave of attack, but could not convert.

And a la Murphy’s Law, a wilde pass by fullback Warrick Gelant saw the Italians take the lead when Mirko Belloni intercepted the ball and ran half the length of the field to put Zebre 7-5 up.

As it has almost become customary these days, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu provided a moment of magic after his losserige kick forward saw the ball bobble up perfectly for the flyhalf to regather and go and score to put the Stormers back in the ascendancy.

Feinberg-Mngomezulu doubled up after halftime as the Kapenaars went 17-7 up before the mercurial No.10 put Warrick Gelant away before the hour mark, from a brilliantly orchestrated backline move off another powerful Stormers scrum.

The Italians tried desperately to claw their way back into the game, but the hardegat Stormers defence just would not budge, with Zebre deciding to kick two penalties to try and narrow the deficit in search of a losing bonus point.

Maar die Stormers het laaste gelag as their cut-throat defence handed them a fifth try op ‘n skinkbord as captain Ruhan Nel intercepted a pass to dot down onder die pale.