Solid Stormers down Cheetahs
20 Mar 2010
The Stormers secured their fourth consecutive victory with a 21-8 win over the Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.
The Cheetahs had a strong start to the game, winning a turnover from the kick-off, which fuelled their fans’ hope early on. But it proved to be false hope as the Stormers stayed composed, fending off the early attack and eventually gaining the ascendancy.
The Stormers had an early setback as Peter Grant suffered a quad strain during the warm-up. This saw Willem de Waal start at flyhalf. Despite his late inclusion in the run on side, De Waal was solid in his first Super Rugby appearance this season.
The Cheetahs surprised with a kick-chase approach from the outset, but it hardly troubled the Stormers as it was executed poorly. The Stormers showed why they were the best defensive team in the competition as they forced the Cheetahs into handling errors when they attempted to run the ball. This set the platform for the home side to gain momentum and they surged into a 13-0 lead.
Joe Pietersen took advantage of the Cheetahs’ ill-discipline by converting two early penalties. This was followed by a try from the fullback, as he scored in the corner after neat interplay saw the Stormers break into the Cheetahs’ red zone.
The Stormers sought to expose the Cheetahs out wide, but the latter’s rush defence killed off a number of try-scoring opportunities.
The Cheetahs persisted with their kick-chase method and it finally paid off in the 30th minute when Robert Ebersohn gathered a chip and offloaded to the unmarked Meyer Bosman. However, Naas Olivier missed the easy conversion.
The Stormers continued to attack thereafter, but failed to add to the tally as the score stood at 13-5 at half-time.
The Cheetahs returned with more direct approach in the second stanza and scored the first points of the half as Olivier sunk a drop goal. But the Stormers struck back immediately with a Jaque Fourie try from the restart. De Waal then extended the Stormers’ lead to 13 points with a three-pointer, and that seemed to seal the result as the Cheetahs never looked like coming back.
The Cheetahs continued to attack in search of a consolation try for a losing bonus point, but the Stormers’ defence stood firm and ultimately they picked up an important win before they embark on their tour Down Under in the next fortnight.
By Gareth Duncan
319 Comments
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20 Mar 2010, 22:28 pm
@I am a stormer: You just can’t help but get a dig in you little kakhol!! I was actually behind the Stormers and have been very complimentary but keep on with your cheap shots you stuck up little **** and I’ll start cheering for the other side just like your Newlands AB/Canes turncoats.
20 Mar 2010, 22:38 pm
“De Waal impressed in his first Super Rugby appearance this season”
Are you freaking kidding me? I thought JC had written this when I read that line. What is it with the Keo De Waal fan club?
The guy has the slowest passing game in first class rugby -and he crabs across the field.
Ask Habana whether he saw much ball today…
Willem “catch-think-regather-ball-pass” de waal…
20 Mar 2010, 22:39 pm
Relax man – now that I got you attention, I was happy Sharks won. You’ve got to be behind the SA sides – always will be.
Listening to other posts this morning, got to say that Ruan is a no. 9 – at fly half it’s a stop gap measure.
My second choice no.10 for the Boks was not on the field today – guess who?
20 Mar 2010, 22:48 pm
@SARugbyFan:
Habanna did not see any less ball today than during the previous 4 weeks.
Strangely enough Jacques Fourie at outside centre saw quite a number of balls today and as a result played very well.
The same goes for the new number 12, he saw enough ball to make quite an impression in his first game.
It beats me why you then blame de Waal for the fact that Bryan did not see many balls?
20 Mar 2010, 22:58 pm
@Johan Fourie : How are your finger nails today?
Can’t believe these sensitive Sharks supporters – not a sense of humour amongst them.
20 Mar 2010, 23:01 pm
Best side step of the day – Brok Harris.
Best line clearance of the day – Brok Harris – 40m nogal!
He doesn’t always go backwards.
20 Mar 2010, 23:17 pm
@I am a stormer: 304 all you’ve done is get cheap shots in. That’s not what I call humour. Not one Sharks supporter is celebrating today’s win nor do we think there’s much hope left for our season. Can’t see the Canes folding next week. Keep up this arrogant **** and I’ll start backing any team that plays against the Stormers.
20 Mar 2010, 23:29 pm
@KZN KING SHARK.I’ve had to eat humble pie plenty of times – doesn’t taste nice.
Sharks have been very unlucky so far – losing by 3 points or 2 points is not pleasant – it might as well have been 20 points.
That has happened to the Stormers over the last 3 years – dropped final passes with the try line begging, forward passes with the try line begging. It’s enough to make you sick. I know that feeling.
Don’t take it personnaly.
I’ve just been winding you up.
21 Mar 2010, 04:10 am
Skopskiet, shouldn’t you be watching soccer? Rugby is a game for smart people. Cockroach.
Jaque Fourie finally got to show what he can do without the clueless de Jongh dying with the ball. Let’s hope de Jongh is out for a while.
Brussow would probably sit on the bench for Burger, he’s everywhere. Leads from the front.
21 Mar 2010, 09:58 am
@Robzim: The ball went down the line. Although De Jongh is an awesome talent, he’s played a lot of crash ball over the past few weeks, whereas Whitehead passed.
However, due to De Waal’s static play (didn’t run on to the ball, passes in two movements), defences were usually up by the time Fourie got the ball.
Last week De Jongh passed more than he has and Fourie had a dynamite match.
21 Mar 2010, 12:45 pm
It would be good to see Peter Grant combine at 12 and WdW at 15. Can Joe P play flyhalf and then we can look at having either PG or WdW or JP at 10 to mix things up a little depending on the situation
Any thoughts?
21 Mar 2010, 14:01 pm
@JL1:
I say don’t change a winning combination… get rid of de Jongh, though.
21 Mar 2010, 14:05 pm
@Kobus Kitty: Yes, I am not one to change for the sake of change but then if you do not change a winning combo why get rid of de Jongh
..beacuse he is a selfish player that tends to play crashball every second move?????
21 Mar 2010, 14:28 pm
@Kobus Kitty: I would like to see more of whitehead at 12. But its going to be a big call to drop de jongh being hyped up so much. De jognh doesnt have the offload skill yet. He makes the linebreaks and all but nothing comes from it. But his young, maybe (if jean’s back) he can learn that skill
21 Mar 2010, 14:29 pm
his = he is
21 Mar 2010, 17:58 pm
/\___/\
/// . . \\\
\\\ ^ ///
ROAR …®
21 Mar 2010, 20:28 pm
@I am a stormer: I watched teh Sharks game and I thought that they asctually looked a LOT more dangerous when Ruaan wentto 10 and Kockott went to 9.
Dunno if its because of Pienaar or Kockott?
Pienaars distribution skils are great- they really are. but he will NEVER live up to his potential if he is continually chopped and changed teh way he has been. FFS it is going to have to be PdV again that shows the work they are wrong about Pineaar by giving him some consistent game time – unlike tehrest of these shoddy coaches. Skoppies where are you dude. Some support here…
21 Mar 2010, 20:38 pm
@JL1: De Jongh – similar sort of strategy to that employed by Jean DV under Jake though- sometimese you have to crash ball it to make space on teh outside and draw in defenders..
I think its more to do with instructions than selfishness.
He also does break the line often.
21 Mar 2010, 20:39 pm
@Iceman: I remmebre Jean being just as selfish and reluctant to offload- and costing the Boks certain tries because of it!
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