In December 2023 at Cape Town Stadium, Manie Libbok’s late conversion sealed a dramatic 21-20 victory for the Stormers over Investec Champions Cup holders La Rochelle.

For Libbok, scrutiny over his goal-kicking has often overshadowed his attacking brilliance. Fair or not, every miss seems magnified. But on this day, when his team needed him most, the Stormers flyhalf delivered under the heaviest pressure – turning doubt into delirium in front of a packed Cape Town crowd.

La Rochelle dominated the early exchanges, taking a 13-6 lead into half-time through a try from scrumhalf Tawera Kerr-Barlow and two penalties by flyhalf Antoine Hastoy. The Stormers stayed in touch through Libbok’s accuracy off the tee but struggled to generate sustained pressure. When No 8 Yoan Tanga crossed early in the second half, the visitors extended their advantage to 11 points and looked in full control.

The comeback began when winger Ben Loader scored from Damian Willemse’s pinpoint cross-kick, cutting the gap. A potential clincher from Hastoy was then chalked off after the TMO spotted head contact in the buildup, and La Rochelle were reduced to 14 men. It gave the Stormers one final chance.

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From the resulting penalty, they kicked to the corner and launched a powerful maul. Hooker André-Hugo Venter broke from the back to score, narrowing the deficit to one point. The conversion would decide it.

Libbok walked to the right-hand touchline, placed the ball and followed his familiar routine. The Stormers had trailed all game. His strike was clean, true and straight between the uprights. The roar said it all.

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La Rochelle, though, would have their revenge later in the season with a 22-21 victory in the round-of-16 clash in Cape Town after Libbok missed a last-gasp conversion.

Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images