Stormers survive the Hurricane
25 Feb 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports on the Stormers’ unconvincing 39-26 win over an ill-disciplined yet plucky Hurricanes side on Saturday.
A last-minute effort by fullback Joe Pietersen so nearly earned the Stormers a bonus-point try, but it seemed fitting that the Cape side were denied a full-haul of log points. In fact, the Stormers turned in a performance that was at times so loose that they were fortunate to walk away with a win at all.
They dominated the early stages of the first half, their forwards manhandling the tourists at the point of contact and via the rolling maul. The loss of captain Schalk Burger to what appeared to be a serious knee injury did little to stall their forward momentum, and by the 34th minute they had established a formidable 20-9 lead.
It was all the Hurricanes could do to spoil at the breakdowns and at the maul, and by the end of the half they had lost props Tristan Moran and Ben May to yellow cards for professional fouls. Despite the two-man disadvantage, however, the Hurricanes stonewalled the limited Stormers attack and struck with a try of their own right on half-time. Beauden Barrett followed up a cool goal-kicking display with a game-breaking offload right on the buzzer, and centre Tim Bateman finished under the posts.
Suddenly the team that had been on the wrong side of a savage beating was only seven points adrift. The Hurricanes were also first to score in the second stanza when Barrett intercepted a loose pass by Jean de Villiers and raced clear. The young flyhalf showed terrific pace to avoid a desperate Gio Aplon en route to the tryline, and then managed to get up and slot a difficult conversion.
The next 20 minutes was a mixed bag for the hosts, who produced some impressive forward drives but also put themselves under unnecessary pressure with basic errors. If they had been playing a more experienced Hurricanes outfit, they may not have been so fortunate to escape with the spoils.
They were awarded a penalty try after a sustained period on attack in Hurricanes territory, and Pietersen continued to knock the penalties over to generate some breathing room. There were some positives in an largely erratic display, and Pietersen’s goal-kicking under pressure was certainly one of them.
The maul also worked well, but the Stormers still seem to lack that killer instinct on attack. They should have scored a try towards the end of the first half and buried the Hurricanes, but flyhalf Gary van Aswegen eventually opted for the drop goal after it was clear the hosts weren’t going anywhere. This after stand-in captain Jean de Villiers had decided to turn down goalable penalties and push for the try.
There were also a number of youngsters on show for the hosts, but considering their fine start, they should have put this inexperienced and ill-disciplined Hurricanes side away by far more.
319 Comments
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25 Feb 2012, 18:10 pm
Wales are looking rather ‘busy’ !!
25 Feb 2012, 18:10 pm
I see now that Ben May was born same day I was.
Stormers will need to improve massively if they are to be contenders this year.
25 Feb 2012, 18:12 pm
Stormers side 1000 times better without Burger suddenly this side will now gel. Its a sad way for the balance of the side to come together via an injury, but now Stormers cohesion and combinations will work far better, plus better on field leadership from JdV and Bekker. Etsebeth and Bekker combining well and Koster, Vermeulen, Kolisi better combo with Carr to come into effect as well as Elstadt could go to 7.
Added advantage with no more interference in the back line by Burger means backs well get far cleaner ball to work with a far better overall situation for Stormers notwithstanding the fact that its come about via unfortunate circumstances.
25 Feb 2012, 18:12 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-146: lol great then I’ll keep any eye out for him and ask him a few burning questions about his thoughts on multi level disc degeneration and canal stenosis see if his answers any of any use..
25 Feb 2012, 18:12 pm
@David(David)-140: van aswegen is not the yster stormers fans made him out to be…he is no better than coleman.
25 Feb 2012, 18:12 pm
9.9 for habana, dives better than marachuchu that one.
25 Feb 2012, 18:13 pm
Ja carol dunno what guns is on about wales nearly scored in the first minute.
25 Feb 2012, 18:13 pm
Looks like Van A still has a lot to learn with his decision making. Not really looking that good at this level.
25 Feb 2012, 18:14 pm
Mullet Rat sticks the knife in.
25 Feb 2012, 18:14 pm
……… no words.
25 Feb 2012, 18:14 pm
No Guns don’t you will regret it I swear!
25 Feb 2012, 18:14 pm
That sucks.
Concentration is the name of the game. Accuracy has got to be pinpoint.
25 Feb 2012, 18:14 pm
@cab(cab)-139:
Si….definitely……. fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck what was that?????????
I think I am going to join my mate Fern watching the hockey!
25 Feb 2012, 18:15 pm
What have we here?
25 Feb 2012, 18:15 pm
Jissus Jean de Villiers is k@k! What is he doing refereeing or playing? he was watching that guy score the try. Second one he´s let through in the game.
25 Feb 2012, 18:16 pm
agmefok, hopeless, where is scalk?
25 Feb 2012, 18:16 pm
Oh well better luck next time stormers!
25 Feb 2012, 18:16 pm
aha……now stormers are in the poo…the score was 23 – 9 now they’re tied.
25 Feb 2012, 18:17 pm
I hope these old timers pi55 off once and for all, De Villiers, Habana, Du Preez, James, Spies, Bakkies etc – Enough is enough.
25 Feb 2012, 18:18 pm
An interesting game unfolding here.
25 Feb 2012, 18:18 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-153: as much as I’m against Burgers wannabe backline play & yes Kolisi looking good i think your 2 second spitfire posts may be a bit premature.
1) they are playing a farken noob travelled Caines team,
2) who’s pass put Aplon away for his try?
3) they were dominating them in the same manner from
The start not to mention the later Canes try.
25 Feb 2012, 18:19 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-157:
I am just hoping Wales run out of steam before they inflict too much damage!
25 Feb 2012, 18:19 pm
Tac you the master of understatement!
25 Feb 2012, 18:20 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-173:
As long as rugby is the winner here, I’ll be content.
25 Feb 2012, 18:21 pm
Being a Bull for the foreseeable future, ek voel flenters.
25 Feb 2012, 18:22 pm
terrible pass by JdV two poor lapses of concentration and now another by Bekker putting Hurricanes into this game. Shocking concentration by Stormers this game should have been put away by halftime already.
25 Feb 2012, 18:23 pm
Telegraphing passes is not the way to win games. If I can see what the Stormers are trying to do the minute the ball leaves the flyhalf’s hands, so can the canes :\
25 Feb 2012, 18:23 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-157: I think we all expect Wales to crack through and win the game at some point but “almost” is not good enough. It’s still 0-0 19min.. Weight here comes a penalty.. No don’t worry missed still 0-0 20min
25 Feb 2012, 18:23 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-153: Can you repeat that please?
25 Feb 2012, 18:24 pm
At least the ref isn’t having an undue influence on this game.
25 Feb 2012, 18:24 pm
The stormers never play for 80 minutes
25 Feb 2012, 18:24 pm
Just imagine it wasn’t Jonker swindling the game for the Stormers?
25 Feb 2012, 18:25 pm
Donkey De Villiers his usual “curl up in a ball on the floor and die” self – gimme a break.
25 Feb 2012, 18:25 pm
Tuilangi giving the English backs some extra “nibble”..
25 Feb 2012, 18:27 pm
25 Feb 2012, 18:27 pm
jean de villiers is past it…
25 Feb 2012, 18:28 pm
But they will still play the fool at 12 come Bok time. Arrgh! Makes me want to spit fire.
25 Feb 2012, 18:28 pm
All these passes not going to hand…oy
25 Feb 2012, 18:28 pm
drive it up and over with your pack, maul it you pampoene, then release when going over.
25 Feb 2012, 18:28 pm
‘Canes defence is screaming for a grubber kick or a chip to the corners. Not stupid flicks and pop passes.
25 Feb 2012, 18:28 pm
This Stormers team must be really disciplined – what with the lop sided penalty count and all.
25 Feb 2012, 18:30 pm
****** that was Pathetic by Kolisi just drifted along watching only to fall over and fail. Chances are Burgers madness and experience he would have made the hit.
25 Feb 2012, 18:30 pm
forward pass and lost control of the ball – knock on – no try
25 Feb 2012, 18:30 pm
again the canes tear them to shreds…
25 Feb 2012, 18:30 pm
Grounds it before an loses control surely…
25 Feb 2012, 18:31 pm
What the hell are the Stormers doing? This game should’ve been over by halftime already.The only reason I’m concerned is because I need my Superbru points! I wonder if Habana will be playing centre for the Stormers again against decent teams.
25 Feb 2012, 18:32 pm
Forward, never grounded. But they should never be in a position for that call to be made. Awful.
25 Feb 2012, 18:32 pm
Need better angle. Maybe be slight downward pressure just hitting line before loosing control..
25 Feb 2012, 18:32 pm
Missed Burger there.
25 Feb 2012, 18:32 pm
yip theyve given then canes a sniff at half-time, all started from that dom dropgoal, shouldve been 20 pnts up going in, now they in kak.
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