An embattled Stormers suffered a 24-14 defeat in their Champions Cup Round One clash with French side RC Toulon at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Saturday.
The home side had led 14-10 at half-time, but two tries from the visitors in the second half saw them come from behind to run out deserved victors.
The Stormers came out firing early on, but it would be the visitors who scored first against the run of play as wing Gabin Viliere dived on a kick ahead.
Flank Keke Morabe was stretchered off early with a knee injury and RC Toulon took their score into double figures with a penalty from scrumhalf Baptiste Serin shortly afterwards.
The home side got on the scoreboard with a try from fullback Warrick Gelant, who dived acrobatically to score in the corner, before Manie Libbok added the conversion from the touchline.
Coach John Dobson’s charges piled on the pressure and eventually got further reward when burly hooker Joseph Dweba scored from a maul in his 50th game. The conversion from Libbok gave the hosts a 14-10 advantage at the break.
Loose forward Willie Engelbrecht was shown a yellow card 10 minutes into the second half. RC Toulon took advantage with a try from his opposite number Fecundo Isa to go back in front and then followed that up with a try from scrumhalf Baptiste Serin to make it 24-14.
A late red card for a high tackle on Manie Libbok was followed by a yellow for the visitors, who were reduced to 13 men in the final stages.
However, the Stormers were unable to take advantage and finished the match with 14 men themselves after Leolin Zas was shown a yellow card.
The scorers:
Stormers: Tries: Gelant, Dweba Conversions: Libbok 2
RC Toulon: Tries: Viliere, Isa, Serin, Conversions: Serin 3
Penalties: Serin
Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Paul de Wet, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Ben-Jason Dixon, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Neethling Fouche (captain), 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Adre Smith, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Louw Nel, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Seabelo Senatla.
