Three try flurry saves Stormers
21 Apr 2006
Three tries in four minutes midway through the second half propelled the Stormers to their third away victory of the Vodacom Super 14 when they downed the Reds 24-20 in Brisbane.
The dance of the desperates never promised much, and errors plagued both side’s attempts to play constructively. The Stormers were further hamstrung by poor decision making – particularly at halfback – and a defensively frail back three. But for their four minute purple match, they did not threaten the Reds line with any conviction.
Credit, however, has to go to under-fire Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe. His tactical decisions have been questionable this season, but tonight in Brisbane he got it right.
Last week the substitution of Naas Olivier after 50 minutes was a major contibuting factor to the defeat to the Chiefs. Now the same move was the catalyst to victory.
Olivier endured a disappointing first half, and the simulatenous injection of Peter Grant at flyhalf and Joe Pietersen at fullback sparked the Stormers, and 13-3 became 13-24 in minutes.
The momentum, so convincingly wrenched from the Reds, was never going to be conceded and a late score through veteran centre Ben Tune was a shade less than consolation.
The performance, coming after two consecutive defeats, was vital in the context of the Cape side’s season. The quality of the opposition was not great, but with the Crusaders, Sharks and Bulls to come, the Stormers knew that a win was crucial.
The confidence boost and familiar surroundings could well prove the cocktail that lifts the Stormers to a late season charge, ensuring respectability and – more importantly – time for the existing coaching staff and management.
Van der Merwe is a realist, and will know that the victory does not camouflage some home truths. Tonderai Chavhanga is not a fullback, he possesses neither the defensive ability or positional sense to inspire the most brittle confidence. His place is on the wing.
Jongi Nokwe, who later atoned through an 80 metre try, produced another wobbly with ball in hand and Rayno Benjamin was just plain appalling.
De Wet Barry, slated for the defeat against the Chiefs and caught up in the captaincy storm that followed, was immense in his return to jersey 12. Barry is not a 13 and if Van der Merwe cannot accomodate him as a 12 then he cannot accomodate him in the starting side.
Jean de Villiers underlined his split rugby personality further by again providing flashes of genius on attack, before fading to a ghost on defence. It was his awful attempt at a first-time tackle on Drew Mitchell that saw the Reds out to their convincing half time lead.
The Stormers return to Cape Town with renewed hope, but it is vital that perspective is maintained. The Reds in Brisbane are an entirely different prospect to the Crusaders in Cape Town, and it is the fixtures with the champions, semi-final chasing Sharks and arch enemies the Bulls that will decide whether the Cape side’s campaign will be deemed acceptable.
At this stage of the season, however, the Stormers will take what they get. Victory, no matter the opposition or the circumstance, is good enough for now.
THE MOMENTS THAT MATTER
78 mins: Consolation for the Reds through Ben Tune. Huxley converts. (Huxley 2/5)
60 mins: De Villiers inches from an intercept score. He knocks on unfortunately and it’s a Reds scrum.
58 mins: Stormers on fire! They score their try of the season with awesome work from De Villiers, Benjamin and Barry. Great support lines and handling sees Gerrie Britz under the poles. Grant converts. (Grant 3/3)
56 mins: Nokwe atones for a poor game with an 80m try. His control in dribbling from his own line is impressive and he has the pace and composure to score. Grant converts from in front , and the Stormers snatch the lead. (Grant 2/2)
54 mins: Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe introduces Peter Grant and Joe Pietersen and it has an immediate impact. Strength in contact from Grant and fine touches from Pietersen see Brits make the scoring pass to Van Niekerk. Grant converts. (Grant 1/1)
51 mins: Andries Bekker is penalised for mountaineering, a call captain Barry and Bekker contest to no avail. Huxley to push the Reds out further … he’s missed an absolute sitter. (Huxley 1/4)
48 mins: Benjamin having a shocker. He knocks on again after a well worked Watson/Brits blindside move.
43 mins: 5m scrum sees Van Niekerk carry the ball strongly. It comes back to Olivier but he takes the wrong option and knocks on in heavy traffic.
42 mins: Stormers make a few metres through one-off runners, and the Reds concede the penalty. Barry instructs Olivier to go for the lineout, which is knocked on by the Reds. 5m scrum.
39 mins: Luke Watson makes a scrambling cover tackle that saves a certain score. Stormers’ line again broken with ease.
38 mins: Benjamin with an appalling clearance. The back three continue to struggle.
30 mins: Jean de Villiers AGAIN misses a routine tackle, he makes a pathetic attempt on Mitchell and the Wallaby flyer is through. Appalling, unacceptable defence. Huxley misses the conversion. (Huxley 1/3)
29 mins: Benjamin knocks the rolling ball. It’s not getting any better for those wearing 11,14 and 15.
26 mins: Great chase by Barry and fierce contesting by Burger wins the Stormers a vital penalty against the run of play. Big moments from the two Boks. Olivier has the chance to reduce the lead to two. He pushes it. (Olivier 1/2)
23 mins: Stormers back three on the ropes. Probing kicks behind Benjamin are also finding acres of space. Reds unlucky not to score from a maul when they’re pinged for accidental offside.
19 mins: Back three again appear shaky. Chavhanga takes the ball back into his 22 before clearing, thus the lineout is from where he kicked it. Reds showing a willingness to exploit Chavhanga and Nokwe’s brittle defence
18 mins: Reds not helping their cause by terrible tactical kicking. Second kick out on the full in 4 minutes.
16 mins: Simple high ball spilled by Nokwe.
14 mins: Good incisive attack by the Stormers. Barry and Chavhanga make good ground, but Nokwe is crowded out.
11 mins: Stormers retain possession well and get it within a metre. Reds pinged and this time Barry opts for the three. No problem for Olivier. (Olivier 1/1)
9 mins: Kickable penlty, and the Stormers opt for the lineout. Brave play.
7 mins: Naas Olivier’s attempted clearance is charged down, and from the resultant scrambling ruck De Wet Barry is pinged for hands. Gives Huxley the simplest chance to extend the lead, and he does. (Huxley 1/2)
6 mins: Reds inches away from another linebreak, this time in the Stormers 22. It’s tips of the fingers stuff for Drew Mitchell, and he just can’t hold on. Again, Stormers seem defensively frail out wide.
3 mins: Stormers start badly, as is now routine. They kick away a lot of possession early and concede a soft try to the rampaging Rodney Blake from close out.Julian Huxley has the chance to convert, but he pulls it. (Huxley 0/1)
SCORERS
Reds
Tries: Rodney Blake, Drew Mitchell and Ben Tune
Con: Julian Huxley
Pen: Huxley
Stormers
Tries: Joe van Niekerk, Jongi Nokwe and Gerrie Britz
Cons: Peter Grant 3
Pen: Naas Olivier
By Chris Hewitt
423 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 » Show All
21 Apr 2006, 12:39 pm
precisely Ben M
21 Apr 2006, 12:39 pm
Yes cab and the Bulls will win the Crusaders
21 Apr 2006, 12:40 pm
OCO – what proof do you have that WP is the most powerful union in SA?
You are taking an opinion, formed out of total bias and paranoia and turning it into fact. i.e you are lying through your teeth. Are you a politician by any chance?
21 Apr 2006, 12:41 pm
zhak, ok but how many coaches are the stormers going to go through before the buck stops. Also, lets remember its not just Fester, there’s the much hyped Gary Gold and of course Nick Mallet chirping the odds in the background.
worrying.
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
WTF, i cant believe this kak. JDV what happened to you? ****, at the rate he’s going we will have a yet another centre pairing this year(like last year after the aussies fucked us, and in particular the great midfield of the law and MJ, up)
The HULK burger also playing like ****, but not nearly at the same level of kak play as big doos van niekerk.
Bring pedrie and juan and WO, cause this kak wont fly come the 3N
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
Not only do they have the largest player base, but they have imports like van Niekerk, Schalk Brits, and Luke Watson, and they’re still underperforming.
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
Kolenel GJ
Your english is of top class
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
So dit vir my lyk gaan die die Cats en die Sharks wees wat “The Republic” se naam die naweek gaan hoog hou.
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
hope they do Kolonel
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
STAN
Wie is jou nugteraap? LOL
21 Apr 2006, 12:42 pm
Shosoloza,
that is exactly what i’ve been saying before. bok are too comfortable. Continuity in selection good but boks should prove every competition S14 or CC that thay are good to be part of this continuity.
21 Apr 2006, 12:43 pm
Kolonel DJ – I thought the prize was a trophy. Will they really win the Crusaders franchise?
21 Apr 2006, 12:44 pm
Munkiboi,
It was on this site or on super rugby, WP have the biggest bucks. Not a dream but (assumimg that either site has their facts right, I am correct.
Assume you used to be a bobejaan but fell off the mountain? If you need to look for ‘bias and paranoia’, look at yourself.
Grant was the ‘next great bok’ at the beginning of the season, now he’s not in the ’15′. Talk about Fickle!
21 Apr 2006, 12:44 pm
Ben M, That you can! ever tried Whiskey with Coffee ?
21 Apr 2006, 12:44 pm
Some of these stormer players couldn’t catch a cold if they tried.
21 Apr 2006, 12:44 pm
Jeez- How kak is Benjamin?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
21 Apr 2006, 12:45 pm
En joune boet check your spelling and hell who cares WTF?this is a blog not a englishe tits
21 Apr 2006, 12:45 pm
Kolonel DJ
Now u are affecting my spelling
21 Apr 2006, 12:46 pm
Frazer, Benjamin was the Stormer’s best winger at the beginning of the season.
21 Apr 2006, 12:46 pm
CSI – you’re right mate. If I can catch a rugby ball, why the hell can’t these “professionals”???
21 Apr 2006, 12:46 pm
Ouch CSI .Are you tellin it like it is ?
21 Apr 2006, 12:47 pm
Not only am I going to puke but I have a sure case of the runs coming on.
Hershey squirts.
21 Apr 2006, 12:47 pm
English *** I have no complaint about. Good call Anvil, we could use such creativity and determination on the rugby field. You busy on the weekends? Lol!
21 Apr 2006, 12:48 pm
if there’s one thing that the South Africans have become the worst at, at all levels, its knocking the ball on in the tackle.
They do it continuously and turnover possession. Its crucial. How hard is it to hold onto the ball when taking the hit, if its the last thing you do, dont knock it on.
21 Apr 2006, 12:48 pm
To be honest never in a million years but if they do then our blue bull bekke will be as big as any other supporters if they won other teams wich we lost against
21 Apr 2006, 12:48 pm
cab
We need velcro
21 Apr 2006, 12:49 pm
there is no doubt that this stormers team has no confidence and no pride. there are decent players, who i guarantee Jake will get performing.
But this still needs to be remedied. When was the last time a Stormers player looked like they were enjoying themselves? Under Solomons, and Under Smal they seemed to enjoy their rugby.
Now they all look like they’re depressed and miserable. The players are not bad players, as so many seem to want to label them. They are just playing extremely poorly.
21 Apr 2006, 12:49 pm
Kolonel DJ – I wasn’t commenting on your spelling. You said the Bulls were going to win the Crusaders, and it got me quite excited. I’m sure we’d all gladly exchange the ‘Saders for the Bulls.
Zhak – The sad thing is that he probably still is…. eish
21 Apr 2006, 12:50 pm
if they beat the crusaders, it will regain much respect for SA rugby, hope they do, but cant see them doing it this year, should be a good game tho. missing lensing and leonard, not the same pack.
21 Apr 2006, 12:50 pm
fantastic… go reds! whipp these wanna be rugby players!
21 Apr 2006, 12:51 pm
Bring on Joubert
He suffers more with form than Hershelle Gibbs
21 Apr 2006, 12:51 pm
big doos
21 Apr 2006, 12:51 pm
Try
What a difference Peterson has made.
21 Apr 2006, 12:51 pm
Guys, If I were paid the amount money these guys get for the 60-70 hours I work in a week, then I would make sure that my best is always played out in a very professional manner, and I would expect the same from these guys.
EVERYONE in here would love that kind of money, these guys don’t deserve sympathy they need an ear full so that they know how much people care about the province they are representing.
21 Apr 2006, 12:51 pm
yes, but you imply that WP somehom have the run of SA rugby, to the detriment of other unions. having money is one thing, exerting influence is totally different. you use a piece of fact, to imply something completely different.
i know wp is a wealthy union, that produces and develops the best and largest quantity of players in the country. but thats where the facts end.
21 Apr 2006, 12:52 pm
jondood, ya and some balls.
21 Apr 2006, 12:52 pm
that should of read big doos scores
21 Apr 2006, 12:52 pm
Stormers try!!
21 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
munkiboi
komaaaaaan
WP are the darlings of SA Rugby.
Puke.
Squirt.
21 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
try!!!!
21 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
Could be a try for Nokwe!!! Come on Stormers!!!
21 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
nokwe scores
21 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
TRY STORMERS!!!
21 Apr 2006, 12:53 pm
excellent
21 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
excellent
21 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
Frazer
Coach was complaining
And wich is fare for the exchange
21 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
Anothet Try. Still a **** game by the Stormers, though.
21 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
What is up with tries?
Are the male cheerleaders on?
21 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
nog een YAY!!!
21 Apr 2006, 12:54 pm
is there any internet radio broadcast of this game?
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