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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  • 151.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:01 pm

    Trans I have to agree

  • 152.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:02 pm

    cant see the infatuation he has with Duvenhage.Ive seen better scrummies in the varsity cup

  • 153.Hoops: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:02 pm

    1st of all… Rubbish ref!!!!

    2nd…..stormers were rubbish!!!!!

    3rd and not lat…..AC is not a good coach. He will tell us they are a good team but really it was their C ream??? AC hyst admit that the ferching rile is not a f@cking team effort and pick one!!!!

  • 154.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:02 pm

    siya kolisi – 17 tackles missed 0 :mrgreen:

  • 155.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:03 pm

    @saru1983(saru1983)-152:
    He had a bit of an off game it happens to all players

  • 156.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:03 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-149: Ja not really satisfied, but I’ll have to be I guess.

    We will have a tough game next week, hope Eben isn’t cited.

  • 157.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:04 pm

    @saru1983(saru1983)-152:

    Best scrummy in WP (Stormers) is Nic Groom (ex UCT) by a mile.

  • 158.HHS: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:04 pm

    Stormers ran out of steam….. Proudfoot not a believer in the treadmill for himself and the Stormer boys.

  • 159.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:04 pm

    Another fecking romcom on mnet

  • 160.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:04 pm

    best flyhalves in sa
    morne steyn only bcause today he showed his not just a one trick pony and can b helped.
    jantjies
    goosen
    ebersohn
    lambie
    broki harris
    peter grant

  • 161.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:04 pm

    @Hoops(Hoops)-153:
    And 4th Stormers win
    STORMERSSSSSSSSSSSSSS :)

  • 162.grant10: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:05 pm

    Kolisi man of the match????? seriously? are the ANC trying to get him into the Bok team or what? he had a great super rugby season before today, but today he was k@k

  • 163.HHS: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:06 pm

    One to watch.
    Andries Coetzee

  • 164.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:06 pm

    @saru1983(saru1983)-160:
    M steyn is only decent with a dominant Bulls pack going forward with good ball from Hougaard Otherwise average player good kicker

  • 165.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:07 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-156:

    I guess we must be happy with a win away from home.
    Lots of surprises in this tourney, so a win is a win.
    Elstadt is ready and raring to go.

  • 166.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:08 pm

    youd rather win ugly than lose pretty anyday of the week, but they better be up for a helluva chakalanga next week in the bulkring who would like nothing better than to rub the stormers noses in it, stormers better take it to them. 4 from 4 best start i can remember..

  • 167.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:10 pm

    @cab(cab)-166:
    Yes to win away struggling is not bad
    Bulls could end up having a day like Blues game

  • 168.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:10 pm

    Twat what game did you watch, as a matter of interest?

  • 169.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:10 pm

    @cab(cab)-166:

    Bulls will be in CT next week.
    Outside the Laager.
    Easy picking.

  • 170.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:13 pm

    @grant10(grant100)-162:
    He is always poor imitator of tackles which he never really made,, ;)

    @Transformation(Transformation)-154:
    17 tackles? he imitated 3 or four
    You must have bought a pair of eyeglasses from that reknown optometrist of Durban Mark Lawrence?
    ;) ;)

  • 171.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:13 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-169:
    Yeah Rob Huge game. I say even
    Stormers have home advantage and Bulls playing well

  • 172.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:15 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-165: Ja true.

    Would have wanted a Bonus going into the game but I guess lucky to get the 4 points at the end of it all.

    Eben establishing himself this season as the form no 4 in the SA conference thus far.

  • 173.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:15 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-167:
    not bad at all – stormers not really revved tho for this one – gotta watch their hype

    @Robzim(Robzim)-169:
    that will make a huge difference, but bulls coming off a huge win.

  • 174.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:17 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-164: i agree but being the incumbent test flyhalf with the experience he needs a chance.with the new coach he might just flourish again but make no mistake as far as allround talent goes reckon goosen and jantjies are streets ahead

  • 175.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:17 pm

    man of the match cilliers, i;d pick him over jannie dup at TH.

  • 176.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:18 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-171:

    If we cannot beat them at Newlands we can just as well give up.

    Our backline will have to improve though.
    Bests backs in the tourney so far are the Cheetahs.
    maybe we must bring Hawies Fourie back to CT to replace Robbie.
    Another example of a great player not making a great coach?

  • 177.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:18 pm

    Stormers got out of jail today. This after being 18 – 0 up.

    Same as last week where they were 24 – 3 up against the Blues before securing the victory.

    If the Stormers continue like this with an early lead they will come up short against the top sides. They have to be more ruthless, finish better and just put their foot on the oppositions throat and not let them back into the game.

    And that must start next weekend.

  • 178.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:19 pm

    yes Hondo, it was a kiwi ref & kolisi got MoM…so what say you? Bwahaaaaaaahahahahaaahahaha

  • 179.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:20 pm

    @saru1983(saru1983)-174:

    Where Steyn does well is when his pack and Srumhalf give him plenty of time and space
    This happens when Bulls or Boks pack are dominant, and has someone like Hougaard and previously Fdp at 9
    If Hougaard is bok 9 ( and he should be) Steyn could stay a bok .
    he does kick well most of the time and this wins test matches
    But yes Goosen IMO is a talent

  • 180.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:22 pm

    As Ashwin just said about Brian:

    “Klaaaas….klaaaas……klaaaaas!”

    Great try by Habs, set up by a TH from the Stormers scrum.

    Light 5 no more.

  • 181.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:22 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-176:
    Ag he’s ok. he’s an OD :)

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

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-181:

    :) Also true.

    Last real great stepper we had, much better than Juan will ever be.

  • 183.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:25 pm

    patrick cilliers is bladdy mobile, he;s not the biggest but i have not seen him pushed back yet, maybe he’s got uitmentende technique like somerville.

  • 184.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:26 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-180:
    And while I am on ODs it was kosters perfect pass that set Habana free in space for the chip kick :)

  • 185.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:26 pm

    John Mitchell being very philosophical.

    When asked about the injury crisis, he replied ” you can’t worry about what you don’t have, you just have to look after what you do have.” This after Doppies now got a problem. I think that’s where the Lions spirit and character comes from. They’ll win more games in the weeks ahead.

  • 186.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:27 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-184: OD?

  • 187.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:28 pm

    @cab(cab)-183:
    When all is said and done I am happy we have our experianced players and plenty of young talent doing really well S A rugby in decent shape IMO

  • 188.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:30 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-186: OD = Bishops Boy

  • 189.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:30 pm

    @stormersboy(stormersboy)-180:

    The Stormers are developing a habit of collecting TH’s.

  • 190.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:31 pm

    Ok got it.

  • 191.HongKongSlong: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:32 pm

    AC and Robbie Fleck have to go. They have all the talent they need to work with but are getting nothing like what they should out of it. The Stormers are winning despite their coaching staff and the fans and players deserve better. Who the hell was that midget hooker who came on at the end? Were we playing the joker card by bringing a clown on at the end to embarrass the Lions? Well the joke backfired and it was on us! Disgraceful.

  • 192.IAAS: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:32 pm

    Much has been said about Bryce getting the chop for the June tests. Another name is also missing. Mr Kaplan’s.

  • 193.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:32 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-187:
    hey i dunno maybe we getting ahead of ourselves, id be tempted to throw the stormpies locks into Bok team to face england, and with kitshoff and malherbe in the running could be a stormers tight 5 bokke team … ooh gaats, who knows what could happen there. the last real tough stomers tightfoward were cobie visagie and gary pagel, keith andrews donnered half of the pumas unconscious in tucuman but he werent great shakes on the field.

  • 194.mettie: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:35 pm

    The Stormers are way to one-dimensional and predictable. Defence is their only option of survival. Their defencive strategy excludes counter rucking. Watch the crusadres. Playing without real fetchers, the Crusaders steels possession by counter rucking. They are intent on attacking. And if the Stormers’ one-dimensional game plan does not work, they start panicking and make one mistake after another. To crown it all: having robbed the Lions of crucial lineout ball, the sudenly decide not to contest lineouts anymore. “We wanna defend!” How crazy!

  • 195.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:35 pm

    @cab(cab)-193: hmmmm :) Cant agree
    My tight five ?
    Connie
    bismark
    JDup
    Alberts
    Bekker

  • 196.cab: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:37 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-195:
    not bad pete, not bad at all. but i say we gotta get gurthro or beast back, coenie may get his poephol shoved down his throat, he doesnt scrum well cos he’s too high and england have just massacred ireland in the scrum..

  • 197.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:38 pm

    @cab(cab)-196:
    Maybe true about connie but he is loose head and has Bismark next to him :)

  • 198.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:40 pm

    @cab(cab)-196:
    Ireland fell apart especially young prop
    And by the way f*&K the poms :)

  • 199.Jeraldjay: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:46 pm

    The momentum of the game changed after Koster dropped the ball in the Stormers 22 when the Stormers we up 18-0.
    And when the Lions are on the front foot they are very difficult to contain. So the Stormers did really well to win this one.

    But the real good news for Stormers and Bok rugby is that Habana’s got the spring back in his step.

  • 200.Tuna: Reply to this comment
    24 Mar 2012, 21:54 pm

    200

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