Defending Investec Champions Cup champions La Rochelle slipped to a second consecutive loss to start their campaign coming up just short against the DHL Stormers 21 - 20 in Cape Town.
Despite leading for the full 80 minutes, Ronan O'Gara's men saw what would have been a match winning try to by flyhalf Antoine Hastoy reversed.
From the ensuing penalty to the Stormers, the home side barged over from a line-out through replacement hooker Andre-Hugo Venter.
The 22-year-old who is the son of iconic Springbok backrow Andre Venter, wriggled through Will Skelton to get the ball down.
Now trailing by a single point, Manie Libbok was faced with about as challenging a conversion as possible out on the right hand touchline.
Having come in for criticism during the Rugby World Cup for his goal kicking, Libbok had the eyes of Cape Town and La Rochelle on him as he stood over the ball.
Following a long build up, the flyhalf proved his big match temperament as slotted the kick.
The result now see's the Champions facing an uphill battle to qualify for the knockout stages.
0 Comments