Bash’s boot saves Stormers
31 Mar 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched Peter Grant nail a 76th minute penalty to give the Stormers a 20-17 victory against a plucky Bulls outfit at Newlands.
He’s already done it once the season, stepping up to sink a touchline penalty in the dying moments of the match against the Sharks. It may not have been the most difficult kick on this occasion, but considering what it represented in the context of a crunch game and possibly the context of the Stormers’ season, Grant’s contribution shouldn’t be underestimated.
He showed terrific temperament under pressure, and so the Stormers managed to win a match that they deserved to win, but so very nearly conspired to throw away.
With regular goal-kicker Joe Pietersen off the field at that point, it was left to Grant to win this game for the Stormers. His strike was true and greeted with a deafening roar from the Newlands faithful, who recognised the significance of the penalty.
It meant the end of a valiant Bulls challenge, as they had rallied back from a 14-0 deficit to level the scores 17-17 in the dying stages. Grant’s penalty also meant the Stormers maintained their unbeaten record, and ensured that they will travel to Australasia with winning momentum.
But coach Allister Coetzee will admit that there is still much to do in the coming weeks. The ability to control a match for 80 minutes still eludes the Cape franchise, and they are yet to show the killer instinct typical of champion teams.
Their pack continues to impress with each outing, and looked to have set the platform for a comfortable win in the first half. Through their lineout dominance and relentless aggression at the point of contact, the Cape heavies manhandled their Bulls counterparts.
Their intent was apparent from the outset, as Nos 1 through 8 got in the faces of the visitors. They clattered into the collisions at terminal velocity, and yet showed more accuracy than the Bulls at the breakdown.
The pressure applied by the Stormers forwards impacted on the Bulls’ halfbacks, and so Francois Hougaard and Morné Steyn struggled to follow through with the usual kicking game. Steyn’s limitations were again highlighted as his pack battled for go-forward ball. He didn’t kick out of hand with the typical accuracy and authority, and missed two shots at goal.
At one stage the Stormers looked to be cruising to an emphatic win. They finally translated their forward dominance into a clinical try at the end of the first half, and at 14-0, held a comfortable lead. It went from bad to worse for the Bulls when their poor discipline eventually cost them as Flip van der Merwe was sin-binned early in the second stanza.
But it was here that the Bulls showed their class and experience, and where the Stormers were guilty of a lapse in concentration. The Bulls rallied strongly, striking against the run of play with a Bjorn Basson try and a further Steyn penalty. They scored 10 points while Van der Merwe was off the park, while the Stormers managed zero.
A Pietersen penalty kept the Bulls at arm’s length, but the momentum had swung in the visitor’s favour. Wynand Olivier flew in at the right-hand corner and Steyn converted from the touchline to level the scores. It was in this pressure situation where the Bulls seemed better equipped to win, having done so in many tight games over the years.
But the Stormers were not to be denied. While a lapse of concentration had cost them early in the second half, it was composure that pulled them through for a massive win. They played themselves into a good field position, and a powerful scrum earned them a kickable penalty.
Grant obliged with the goal, but it was a team effort that ensured they finished on the right side of the scoreline. They controlled possession and territory in the dying stages, and when the final whistle sounded, they duly celebrated as if they had achieved more than just another league win.
It wasn’t a complete performance by the Stormers, but they will draw confidence from another aggressive forward showing as well as the composure shown at the death. It bodes well for matches against the Reds and Crusaders in Australasia, although they will know that nothing less than a consistent showing Down Under will keep their unbeaten record intact.
240 Comments
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31 Mar 2012, 18:40 pm
come on my pink dragons!
31 Mar 2012, 18:48 pm
Sharks!
31 Mar 2012, 18:51 pm
errr..
31 Mar 2012, 18:51 pm
@roobarb2(roobarb2)-1:
I’ll bet Wynand just rocks that little pink number.
31 Mar 2012, 18:56 pm
and as the yanks say, get ready to RUMBLE….
31 Mar 2012, 19:01 pm
Looking at the log I believe a Bulls victory will best suit the Sharks. Although a low scoring draw will be very naaice.
31 Mar 2012, 19:01 pm
Should be easy for Stormers.
The biggest (only) concern is Craig (17%) Joubert.
Otherwise it is a walk in the park.
31 Mar 2012, 19:02 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-7:
Rob that is almost at “Sharks should easily win the SA conference” proportions.
31 Mar 2012, 19:03 pm
Jissus how’s that snaakse white tie and black shirt combo sported by Ludeke.
31 Mar 2012, 19:04 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-7:
Come on Rob, not a good look.
31 Mar 2012, 19:05 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-6:
Does not really matter for the Sharks.
They are number 3 in SA- Bulls and Stormers are the real deal – so u can take it easy, – no need to stress for you.
31 Mar 2012, 19:07 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-11: Lol Rob. Stormers are the recent and perhaps temporary addition to the elite SA teams. Enjoy the good run whilst it lasts, you never know when the bad (normal) times will return for you guys
Good luck to your team this evening. May the best team win!
31 Mar 2012, 19:07 pm
Let’s get the moans about the ref in aerly boys.
Just in case.
31 Mar 2012, 19:08 pm
Hahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaa
31 Mar 2012, 19:09 pm
Pink shorts and pink socks too
31 Mar 2012, 19:09 pm
Go Gio my homeboy….
31 Mar 2012, 19:09 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-8:
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-10: \
What bothers me is that the Stormers had since 2007 an average of 60% winning rate under ALL referees in Super rugby but when Joubert was in charge , only a 17% winning rate ?
The 17% is a complete outlier (exceptionally small) in the data set comprising the percentages of all refs who have officiated in 5 or more Stormer matches) – the 2 refs who come closest to him are Stuart Dickenson and Bryce Lawrence and their average for Stormers games are 50% ( and u know us saffers think these 2 refs are kak)
Taking this cold hard FACTS into consideration, i am farkin concerned. Hope u understand and do not think i am negative bout this match.
31 Mar 2012, 19:10 pm
what is zane doing??!
31 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm
I’ve refrained from joking about the Bulls pink strip as I still remember the embarrassment of the Stormers adopting pink shirts to go with their blazers as a fashion statement. Stormers TV had a feature on it that almost turned me into a Bulls supporter in shame.
31 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-12:
Thanks man.
31 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm
I’m waiting for Craig to blow one up for Pink hands in the ruck.
Time to increase the whisky dosage.
31 Mar 2012, 19:11 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-17:
Cool, hope he blows fair,
.
31 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm
I actually quite like the jacaranda flower inspiration behind the colour. It’s very Pretoria.
31 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm
Joubert is a purse.
31 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm
that was actually very nice of the organisers…well done!
31 Mar 2012, 19:12 pm
Farken hell the pink varkies! They look like a bunch of voortrekker drag queens.
31 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm
They should do the clapping thing because the silence it not that well observed
31 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm
lmao took precisely 2 minutes…
31 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm
Revolting colour and appearance
31 Mar 2012, 19:13 pm
Liebenberg jou doos
31 Mar 2012, 19:14 pm
Yeeeehahhhh, watch out for the handbag Tiaan
31 Mar 2012, 19:14 pm
Liebenberg is a tjop.
31 Mar 2012, 19:14 pm
The pink shorts a bit over the top.
Tiaan….. what a d00s.
Give him his handbag back.
31 Mar 2012, 21:41 pm
Congrats Stormers!!! Was at a graduation so missed the whole game… Will have to watch the highlights…
31 Mar 2012, 21:44 pm
So this thread working again.. where’s Keohane the two face yellow back turncoat backing a Tswane Team while his kiddies go to SACS
where all the rest of the 314 Bully breker supporters who were so convinced Bulls were gonna down the Stormers tonight… where they all hiding out?
31 Mar 2012, 21:50 pm
If you win with one point , a win is a win ! Keo , sorry mate you been wrong this time round. The team who wants to win will win the game. Eenvoudige voorbeeeld , die cheetha’s het gewys as jy kan jy wen maak nie saak teen wie jy speel nie. Take my head off for them , they played a blinder. Lions also went all the way even if they haven’t won it but they stand tall agains the ones mighty Chrusaders. Sharks also went out there to win and they did it. Never say vever ! this year we in for some surpises. Watch out for the Cheetha’s when they come back home. Stormers still have to go a long way. I hope we can pull off a surprise but hard work forward. Youngsters are doing ok so far and i am sure we will win a couple of games away from home. Still a long super 15 ahead.
31 Mar 2012, 21:50 pm
Great match. Bok rugby looks powerful. Add the Sharks and we have such a terrific pool of talent & experience. Cannot wait for the series vs Eng. The Boks will crush them if playing with tonight`s physicality.
31 Mar 2012, 21:56 pm
Interesting take on it, JC.
So if Joubert had awarded the final scrum penalty correctly, and the game ended in a draw, would you still be claiming that the Stormers “kept their composure” in the end?
31 Mar 2012, 22:00 pm
Well done stormers
Did anyone see where Hougaard was standing at the scrum where he nearly scored but knocked on?
He was standing on the other side of Duvenaghe next to our flank clearly offsides Even before the ball was put in. Poor reffing
31 Mar 2012, 22:00 pm
To think we could select this Bok 22…
15. Francois Steyn.
14. Gio Aplon.
13. J.P. Pieterson.
12. Jean De Villiers.
11. Bryan Habana.
10. Johan Goosen.
9. Francois Hougaard.
8. Pierre Spies.
7. Schalk Burger (c).
6. Heinrich Brussow.
5. Andries Bekker.
4. Johan Etsebeth.
3. C.J. Van Der Linde.
2. Bismark Du Plessis.
1. Coenie Oosthuizen.
16. Dean Greyling.
17. Adriaan Strauss.
18. Juandre Kruger.
19. Willem Alberts.
20. Duane Vermuelen.
21. Sarel Pretorious.
22. Juan De Jongh.
31 Mar 2012, 22:01 pm
Lets see Keo come on here and eat his words!
31 Mar 2012, 22:01 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-25:
I thought the pink kit was only for the Oz/Nz away games?
31 Mar 2012, 22:03 pm
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-41:
To nail a guy for picking the wrong winner in a game that is decided by a scrum penalty at the death – and a dodgy call at that – is a bit unreasonable, don’t you think.
This game could have gone either way, and it would have been as unfair for Keo to gloat if the Bulls had gotten that last penalty, as it is for you to gloat now. Because it was that close.
31 Mar 2012, 22:05 pm
Well done Stormers! To the “Pink Ladies” great comeback.
31 Mar 2012, 22:07 pm
The Sadie hype train is going nowhere atm.
31 Mar 2012, 22:09 pm
@Tuna(Tuna)-45:
True. I’m concerned about his mental state. He’s out of it at the moment, with Engelbrecht outperforming him regularly.
31 Mar 2012, 22:10 pm
Jeez those jerseys are really worse than I first thought…
31 Mar 2012, 22:10 pm
My take on the game:
-Stormers deserved to win and well done
-Peter Grant is not good enough
-Brock harris cannot scrum, not up to super rugby standard
-Etzebeth will be a Bok this year
-Joubert was clearly feeling the pressure from stormers fan that’s reason he gave the last penalty
-Sadie is all hype, not worth the price tag
-Chilli had his best game in 3 years
31 Mar 2012, 22:11 pm
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-46: When is Venter coming back? JJ is a must for your team. He makes a impact every time he comes on the field.
Sadie needs to play some VC.
31 Mar 2012, 22:13 pm
Bryan Habana nearly gave Dean Greyling the hiding of his life
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