Stormers hold off gutsy Lions

Stormers hold off gutsy Lions

24 Mar 2012

SIMON BORCHARDT reports on the Stormers’ unconvincing 24-19 win against the Lions at Ellis Park.

In the build-up to this game, much was made of the fact that the Lions had lost 11 first-choice players to injury. But their rookie replacements more than held their own against the SA conference champions, with scrumhalf Tian Meyer in particular looking like a Super Rugby veteran and the front row of Caylib Oosthuizen, Callie Visagie and Pat Cilliers – who had four Super Rugby caps between them coming into the match – achieving parity at scrum time, apart from one costly tighthead. The Lions dominated the breakdown, which wasn’t a surprise as the Stormers don’t have a recognised fetcher.

In the end, though, the Cape side was still too good on the night, racking up 18 points in the first quarter and then stepping up a gear at the end of the third to regain control of a match that was slipping away from them. But it was a far from convincing performance and the Bulls must be looking forward to their trip to Newlands next weekend.

The Stormers made the perfect start to the game when Bryan Habana tapped the ball back from the kick-off and nine phases later Tiaan Liebenberg crashed over for a try in his 50th Super Rugby match.

Fifteen minutes later, the Stormers won a tighthead and the ball went wide to Habana, who kicked ahead, raced past Warren Whiteley and dived on the ball just before it went dead for his 50th Super Rugby try. Joe Pietersen missed the conversion but slotted two penalties to make it 18-zip.

The Lions finally got on the board on the half-hour mark when a sustained attack on the Stormers’ line resulted in a try for Meyer. That gave the hosts a big boost and they began to dominate possession, taking the ball through 17 phases just before half-time, although they were unable to cross the whitewash.

The Lions’ fightback was evident by the fact that the Stormers had to make 55 tackles compared to their opponents’ 24 in the first half.

After 20 minutes of the second half that stat had blown out to 87-28 and the visitors’ lead had been cut to just two points after three penalties from Butch James.

But the Stormers raised their game in the final quarter and two penalties from Pietersen secured a win that takes them to the top of the combined Super Rugby standings.

The Lions did get a deserved bonus point when Andries Coetzee slotted a drop goal after the hooter, but they will be disappointed not to have got four.


445 Comments

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  • 51.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:52 pm

    That looked more like Habana competing for the ball

  • 52.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:52 pm

    Stormers are playing kak.

  • 53.namLion: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:53 pm

    was realy hoping to see jaco taute in action, but zero ball has gone outside of doppies

  • 54.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:55 pm

    Stormers have made 55 tackles already. They need to get their hands on the ball

  • 55.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:55 pm

    As Vrede would say, “The Stormers need ZTRUCTURE” :-)

  • 56.namLion: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:57 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-54: half of those tacklees were made in the lions 22 so its not realy a problem

  • 57.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:58 pm

    Pick and drive working for the Lions. Let’s see what happens in the second half.

  • 58.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:58 pm

    Bryan is the most committed player in the Stormers team.

  • 59.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:59 pm

    RE-LOAD! NOW!

  • 60.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:59 pm

    He has also achieved more in the game than anyone else on the field.
    What an example.

  • 61.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 19:59 pm

    Habana scores 1 try and he is the best winger ever? … what about being caught out of position and giving away a penalty in just 1 minute … not back @ his best yet! Le Roux of the Cheetahs, Mvovo, Aplon, Basson are the form wingers in SA atm

  • 62.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:00 pm

    @Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-57:
    Yes but not really getting across the advantage/gain line
    Possibly need to spread it wide sometimes

  • 63.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:01 pm

    @grant10(grant100)-61:
    Basson ?
    Cant defend to save his life

  • 64.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm

    18 down and the lions only started to play..momentum swung back to lions but the stormers defense is not rated as the best for nothing..hopefully the lions can score a try and really get back into this game in reference to the scoreboard..

  • 65.Dwarslat: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:03 pm

    James is a non entity. Take him off.

  • 66.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:07 pm

    Stormers need 4 tries for a vital bonus point
    does not look as if they are going to get it at the moment.
    Carr (Kolisi) van Aswegen (Grant) and Malherbe (Brock) asap.

  • 67.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:08 pm

    Kolisi having a mare!!!!! normally i like the kid, his worst game for the Stormers so far!

  • 68.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:12 pm

    No No Jackson

  • 69.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:12 pm

    Lions are all over them now

  • 70.weakoma: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:13 pm

    Lions getting back into this game with their sudden dominance at the contact area..

  • 71.Dwarslat: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:13 pm

    Kolisi plays for the cameras. Refuses to do the donkey work required for a fetcher.

  • 72.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:13 pm

    @grant10(grant100)-61: Basson? Never. Not a fan. Habana all the way.

    Damn Lions are coming back through Stormers idiocy.

  • 73.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:13 pm

    Goodness the sharks are circling

  • 74.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:14 pm

    ok, Malherbe on, about time.

  • 75.namLion: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:15 pm

    lions will take the lead and loose it in the last 10mins

  • 76.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:16 pm

    Stormers need to show patience and commit more. There are too many players walking around the field.

  • 77.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:16 pm

    look the Stormers lost & failed to get a bonus point against much weaker Lion team’s that this … we always strugle in JHB. We can get our bonus point next week against the Bulls, just get the win today

  • 78.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:17 pm

    Malhebe immediately shoved the Lions prop’s head up his arse.

  • 79.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:18 pm

    this meyer boy is much better than bondishio, pinochio

  • 80.LouArth: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:19 pm

    Hold it together Stormers!!!

  • 81.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:20 pm

    Get Duvenhage OFF the field.

  • 82.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:21 pm

    @Michael(mikeybrass)-78:

    Duvenhage’s kicking game is failing him tonight.
    I am getting worried now.

  • 83.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:22 pm

    janee, all lions at the moment, write them off at your peril, stormers looking like slipping on a banana skin here..

  • 84.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:24 pm

    Duwenhage kicks all the ball away. Lions are playing well. Stormers can’t get their hands on the ball

  • 85.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:25 pm

    @cab(cab)-83:

    True, Stormers using a 9 to cover for the 10′s inability to kick for territory and now that the 9 is failing there is kak all over the place for them.

  • 86.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:25 pm

    And people wonder why I am a bull for the foreseeable future

  • 87.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:25 pm

    Is it just me or is Butch avoiding contact, seems like he is getting rid of the ball as it touches his fingers so as not to be tackled.

  • 88.Michael: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:26 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-82: The forwards need to tighten up and Duvenhage must stop kicking the ball away dammit.

  • 89.namLion: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:26 pm

    b james starting to run this game

  • 90.LouArth: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:28 pm

    What’s happening?

  • 91.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:29 pm

    skitterende spel..

  • 92.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:30 pm

    Stormers just surviving here

  • 93.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:30 pm

    Depleted Lions team showing the Stormers how its done.

  • 94.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:31 pm

    good wake up call for the Stormers … just what we needed before the Bulls (same wakeup call the bulls had vs the blues) … only difference, Stormers will pull it through

  • 95.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:31 pm

    @Treehugger(Treehugger)-87:
    Nope, he nearly scored crashing close tot he line

  • 96.namLion: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:32 pm

    kamana is useless and john mitchell refuses to acknowledge it

  • 97.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:32 pm

    the donkey is turned..

  • 98.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:33 pm

    Jackson having a shocker

  • 99.Treehugger: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:34 pm

    Ta Coach.

  • 100.namLion: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 20:34 pm

    took of doppies and josh, no! from here on the lions will go backwards

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