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, 13:12 pm
We’re approaching the last 10 minutes. Will the wheels fall off?
21 Apr 2006, 13:12 pm
I didn’t even have to log on to know something was up. The taunting texts from Pretoria had stopped.
21 Apr 2006, 13:13 pm
Howzit going Cab!
I popped in about 30 min ago and the stormers were down 13-3. I pop in again and they have scored 3 tries. WTF!!!
Sounds like Keo has got a new hobby horse – JdV kak tackling.
21 Apr 2006, 13:13 pm
there you may have a point Zhak, bladdy hell just shows what these guys are capable of 3 tries in as many minutes, their current league position is a disgrace, its still a good team.
21 Apr 2006, 13:13 pm
Stormers need to pick up their concentration and close the game out with another try.
21 Apr 2006, 13:13 pm
as the game enters the final 10 minutes. Can the Stormers hold on to their lead?
21 Apr 2006, 13:14 pm
Reds knock on and stormers get the ball, despite JdV’s poor defensive effort tonight he came up trumps on that play, conradie kicks from base of scrum and he finds touch 25 out from stormers line. Reds throw in, they go long and chapman has it, they take in, pick and go by reds, berry has a go and croft goes for it, berry, huxley, berry from the ruck and mitchell takes them on, berry to huxley off to roe hit by burger, maul, ruck now, berry to the left mitchell, hinds and joubert good hit and reds are going backwards, they go again and advantage reds, hands in ruck, the reds a persisten eith the pick and go, 12 phases, mitchell taps and goes and ball out on stormers side, penalty for hands and tap and go and big joe with a big tackle and huxley loses the ball, great try saving tackle. well done big joe.
21 Apr 2006, 13:14 pm
veltie, ya that will be my fault about JdV, got sick of everyone blaming old Barry, both are great players, about time WP started playing.
21 Apr 2006, 13:15 pm
Stormers need another try for the BP
21 Apr 2006, 13:16 pm
Scrum reds 5 out, playing advantage from stormers players in front of kicker. The reds put on a big scrum, berry goes to johansson and cross kick for hinds and its cleaned up, 22m drop out.
21 Apr 2006, 13:16 pm
frazer, what they gonna do with a bonus point? a win is a win to the stormers, bonus points mean nothing to them.
that said, man i hope they hold on.
21 Apr 2006, 13:17 pm
yesssus, you know the world’s gone mad when big Joe is putting in big tackles.
21 Apr 2006, 13:19 pm
ja cab, its amazing what can happen when the feeling comes back into your game.
21 Apr 2006, 13:20 pm
Cab,
your comment 308
Easy now tiger, let’s not get our expectations to high with a fluke 10 minutes of rugby.
21 Apr 2006, 13:20 pm
Penalty Stormers, they kick to touch and they dont get it, reds have it a kick that the stormer return and reds attack from ruck, tune to croft and burger there to clean up, reds attack wide roe on a good run advantage reds, off side stormers, Huxley is smashed by Joe, his 2nd massive hit, u would have thought huxley would have learned from the 1st hit he got, now hes hurting part of that pain from the score board.
21 Apr 2006, 13:21 pm
Well, if they can maybe get out of the bottom half before the season is up, it would give them something…
21 Apr 2006, 13:21 pm
Reds go close and TRY TUNE!!! well tmo but it looks ok.
21 Apr 2006, 13:21 pm
the reds are kak, cant believe the bulls actually lost to thes guys
21 Apr 2006, 13:22 pm
ha ha Ollie, no they are class players, but they need to show committment and hunger, think Kobus might have blown his pfoefie-valve in the changeroom.
21 Apr 2006, 13:22 pm
24-20, 1 minute left.
21 Apr 2006, 13:22 pm
Reds try!! Gonna be a close finish!!
21 Apr 2006, 13:23 pm
yoda,
noone could believe the bulls lost to reds
21 Apr 2006, 13:23 pm
that Ben Tune is committment personified.
21 Apr 2006, 13:23 pm
blaas die fluitie ref
21 Apr 2006, 13:24 pm
Siren gone and reds have a scrum on there 22, here we go, anything could happen, free kick reds, roe taps and goes, and tackled, reds set ruck, holmes to johansson to huxley and forward pass and its FULL TIME. STORMER WIN 24-20.
21 Apr 2006, 13:25 pm
Yes F**CKING Please!!! Go Stormers!!!!
21 Apr 2006, 13:25 pm
Cab
KVDM @ Halftime
“I give up. Go do whatever you feel like!”
21 Apr 2006, 13:26 pm
Ok.Another shot for me.
21 Apr 2006, 13:26 pm
Well what do you know? The Stormers actually won a game….
21 Apr 2006, 13:26 pm
Stormers best players:
Gerrie Britz & de Wet Barry!!!
21 Apr 2006, 13:27 pm
Nice one CSI
21 Apr 2006, 13:28 pm
Well done Stormers. Maybe Fester pulled the dummies out of their butts at half time.
‘Maak hulle almal bokke!’
21 Apr 2006, 13:28 pm
yip DavidSp
“Right boys we’re up against it, not for the first time this season, both on and off the rugby field”
21 Apr 2006, 13:29 pm
Well, in 160 minutes of rugby we have seen 15 brilliant tries, now to the Crusaders/Force game, who knows what the score will be in this one and how many tries scored.
21 Apr 2006, 13:29 pm
Thank goodness not much extra time. Still, one better than some SA sides.
21 Apr 2006, 13:29 pm
Welgedaan die Rugridders.
Ek is trots op julle.
21 Apr 2006, 13:29 pm
And it’s the first time I have bet on them in 6 weeks.
W P, Jou lekker ding!!!!!!!
21 Apr 2006, 13:30 pm
3rd away win? intersting to see that reds would have taken it if huxleys kicking was better.
21 Apr 2006, 13:31 pm
Baie geluk Brokies van die Mountain welgedaan
21 Apr 2006, 13:32 pm
CSI, thats interesting about Gerrie Britz, used to be a JW favourite, but seems to have taken a backseat at the stromers.
21 Apr 2006, 13:32 pm
well done Stormers. showed you were “jags” for a win. nice…
21 Apr 2006, 13:32 pm
Well Done Stormers, talk about heart attack material, this team knows how to scare their fans near death and then bring them back with tries like that. They started their tour with a win and end it with a win, so all in all they got 2 wins, albeit against the lowly ranked oz teams, but a win is a win.
21 Apr 2006, 13:33 pm
Lekka!!!! Hoe voel dit om ons mofkoppe te noem julle bull P*$se!!!!! Miskien is die bullshitters die moffe….want hulle kan nie eers die rubble reds wen nie!!!
Vat so!!! Stormers maak my naweek!!!! The Big Joe Van niekerk!!! Go Stormers!!!!
**** nou nog net vi die Cats…hehehehe….
21 Apr 2006, 13:34 pm
Who’s your team CSI? The ‘Saders?
21 Apr 2006, 13:35 pm
Stan
Ja nee, om die seldsame Stormers oorwinning te vier gaan die manne van die Kaap vanaand weer groot makietie hou in The Bronx…
21 Apr 2006, 13:36 pm
Frazer
Im a Blues supporter, I don’t know how they would go in SA against the Sharks, a team I respect alot, so fingers crossed.
21 Apr 2006, 13:37 pm
Cab!
Hou op suurgat wees toe….as as as!!! As is verbrande hout…..as die stormers die Canes gewen het…as die stormers die brumbies gewen het….dan was hulle nou oppad semis toe….trek daai ding uit jou hol en se net geluk stormers!!!
Jou moron!!!
21 Apr 2006, 13:37 pm
Congrats to the Stormers.
About time we pull one out.
21 Apr 2006, 13:37 pm
Well done to the Stormers.
Lyndon Bray is a useless referee-both sides suffered some very poor decisions.
The Reds still have a long way to go. They should have never conceded that breakaway try or the one from the kick-off-very shoddy defence for the second one. Also, their handling was appalling as well as their ball retention.
The stormers took hold of their opportunities well and defended like demons in the last ten minutes. They deserved to win.
21 Apr 2006, 13:39 pm
From 13-3 looked like a vrot game, but something crawled right up their *** – I could’nt believe it! Chuck Norris kaks himself in the presence Shalk Brits! 1 SA team win so far this weekend, go Sharks!! Go Cats!!!
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