Stormers pack claims first big scalp
2 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes that the seasoned heavies as well as the young Stormers forwards made a massive statement in Saturday’s beating of the Bulls.
The expression on Andries Bekker’s face at the final whistle said it all: nothing beats beating the Bulls.
It hasn’t happened too many times over the past decade, and only a couple of times in Bekker’s career. It’s for this reason that you can forgive him for celebrating wildly after the most recent result. It’s a big win in isolation, but even more important for a Stormers pack before a testing tour Down Under.
Bekker hasn’t enjoyed much success against the Bulls in recent years, as he was previously up against the then incumbent Bok No 5 Victor Matfield. Saturday’s game at Newlands saw the Bulls fielding a team without Matfield, who has since retired, and Bekker didn’t miss a great opportunity to take control.
It didn’t matter that Matfield, now the Bulls lineout consultant, had worked with the Pretoria side in the build-up. It also didn’t matter that the Bulls fielded a lineout unit boasting Springboks like Chiliboy Ralepelle and Flip van der Merwe, as well as the impressive yet uncapped (as far as Test rugby is concerned) Juandré Kruger. Bekker and his Stormers pack were up to the lineout challenge, ultimately nullifying one of the Bulls’ traditional strengths.
The Stormers countered the Bulls’ attempts to maul, showing superior aggression at the point of contact as well as incredible discipline. The Bulls let themselves down in this regard, and were often penalised by referee Craig Joubert for transgressing the laws.
After a great start to the 2012 competition at the lineout, they will view their defeat at this set piece in Cape Town as an important lesson. Just as Bekker and company were schooled by Matfield and the Bulls in previous years, so the Bulls will be better for a beating at the hands of a class act like Bekker.
The Stormers had a terrible third quarter and the final scoreline suggests the Bulls gave as good as they got. But 20-17 wasn’t a fair reflection of the Stormers’ superior forward effort. It could be said that the half-time score of 14-0 was also a poor return considering the Cape side’s dominance up front, and not for the first time this season the finger of blame can be pointed at the backs for a static attack and a largely ineffective kicking game.
Any win against the Bulls is achieved via a superior performance up front, and for this reason, the Stormers deserved to take the spoils in Saturday’s combative contest. Not enough is made of the fact that they field three rookies, all under the age of 21, in their starting pack week after week. And yet, the youngsters and experienced heads are combining to produce some of the most dominant Stormers forward displays of the past few years.
Loosehead Steven Kitshoff is enjoying a fantastic first season, and combining well with Tiaan Liebenberg and Brok Harris in the front row. As assistant coach Robbie Fleck suggested a couple of weeks ago, it’s been a long time since the Stormers had such a dominant scrum. The youngster’s introduction has also inspired other seasoned heads to lift their efforts, and Liebenberg, in an all-round capacity, is starting to get back to his tackle-busting best.
Bekker was always going to take some time to regain form after missing seven months of competitive rugby, and Saturday’s game against the Bulls showed why he is the natural successor to Matfield as the Boks’ lineout manager. Under Bekker’s tutelage, Eben Etzebeth has flourished but has also brought his own edge to the game. Etzebeth’s aggressive attitude has been central to the Stormers’ tackle fight this season, which is great news for a pack that already boasts abrasive players like Liebenberg and Duane Vermeulen.
The latter player has been in phenomenal form and will be in the Bok mix later this year if he remains fit. Vermeulen’s work as a ball-carrier has only been exceeded by his contributions as a kamikaze-style defender. His prowess at the breakdown and ability to turn over possession is often unacknowledged, and while he’s no Francois Louw in this regard, he does lend a fetcher-less outfit that little bit extra on the ground.
Rynhardt Elstadt made a solid return from injury against the Bulls, and seemed determined to remind everybody why he was considered the Stormers’ answer to Bakkies Botha before Etzebeth was blooded. On the other flank, Siya Kolisi is less rabid in the manner in which he conducts himself, but no less effective. Like Vermeulen, he has made some powerful contributions as both a ball-carrier and the type of defender that smashes opponents back in the tackle.
It’s for these reasons that the Stormers haven’t missed Schalk Burger. The Stormers captain was injured in the first game of the season, but Kolisi and the pack as a collective have marched on in abrasive fashion, out-muscling their counterparts at the Sharks, Blues and Lions before making a bigger statement against the Bulls.
Because of this coach Allister Coetzee can allow Burger to stay at home while the team tours Australasia. If the Stormers had not gathered such great forward momentum in the past few weeks, perhaps Burger would be asked to join the trip. As it is, Burger will use the extra time to heal fully.
There are weaknesses in the Stormers’ game as a whole, but what is encouraging is that the pack has continued to grow with each outing. There are greater challenges to come, with the Highlanders in terrific form in the forwards and the Crusaders stacked with All Black heavies. The Reds have struggled in 2012 but do have a number of Wallabies in their pack, and the Force possess a strong lineout and the best fetcher in the world in David Pocock.
Burger will rejoin the squad when they return from their tour, but in the interim Coetzee will need to manage his team carefully. The youngsters should continue to play and gain experience but at some stage Coetzee will need to look at an alternative for Bekker in that key No 5 role, and also ensure that Vermeulen, a player that gets through a lot of work, is not overexposed as has been the case in the past few seasons.
114 Comments
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2 Apr 2012, 05:25 am
Ah yes, world beating DRAGONS!
2 Apr 2012, 06:03 am
A very exciting pack indeed. The youngsters have already turned potential into performance. A golden age is upon us as far as forwards are concerned.
2 Apr 2012, 06:03 am
I think those ridiculous pink outfits had an impact on the mentality of the players, suddenly the Blue Bulls pack looked like a bunch of burly men is tutus….looked far less intimidating. But my beloved Blue Bulls will bounce back come this weekend.
2 Apr 2012, 06:05 am
Bully boy taming DRAGONS
2 Apr 2012, 06:07 am
Those pink outfits affected the Bulls more than the Stormers I reckon. FAR too pink and it caused them to think the could play with swagger…NOT!
2 Apr 2012, 06:10 am
@Japer die Haper(Japer die Haper)-3:
Asih boet, who thought that was a good idea?! The pink on the front was bad enough but when you saw the back…and then the PANTS…and then the SOCKS!!! It was not a good look.
Funniest part though was when the ref called ‘pink, hands of the ball now’…watching at some ungodly hour in the morning, in a quiet house and I still laughed out loud!
2 Apr 2012, 06:16 am
Stormers can rotate elstadt, etsebeth and bekker. No need to bring Kokkie Steenkamp into the mix. He does absolutely nothing
2 Apr 2012, 06:20 am
Its no good having a pack who can dominate when the backs do absolutely nothing. At this stage in the competition, the forwards get an A+, but the backs get a resounding fail. 8 players can not win the competition and serious work needs to be done by the Robbie Fleck and the backs….
2 Apr 2012, 06:24 am
Good win but don’t write of the Bulls. Stormers will have to forfeit their usual siesta time after lunch break. That 3rd quarter slump was terrible to watch and will cost them dearly against more tenacious teams like the Crusaders and Highlanders. Even the Force play 80 minute rugby.
2 Apr 2012, 06:25 am
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-8: Totally agreed.
2 Apr 2012, 06:29 am
Personally loved the pink outfits, imagine Coonie in one of those pink numbers…I am salivating just thinking about it!
2 Apr 2012, 06:31 am
Just noted it is Coenie and not Coonie…so sorry, terrible mistake but feel free to spank me anytime Coenie!
2 Apr 2012, 06:37 am
@Amerifikaner(Amerifikaner)-9:
It will be different in the return match but on the day the Stormers looked much more determined right from the kick-off. Can only imagine how charged up the Bulls will be next time.
2 Apr 2012, 06:39 am
What the hell is it with this bloke and his gutter talk? Do we really have to read it hear?!
2 Apr 2012, 07:08 am
It was good for SA rugby that the Stormers are contributing to the options SA have in the tight 5. In the last few years, its been the achillies heel of the Stormers.
Was really impresse with Kitschoff & Etzebeth, amazing that the youngsters are playing with no fear. Well done to the Stormers.
I also still feel that Peter Grant is one of the better options for bok 10. He takes the ball really flat, and the stormers got over the advantage line way more than the Bulls from 1st phase.
Shocking to see a bulls pack so lacking of confidence. In the second half, when the Bulls were backpeddalling in the scrums, I had a horrified look on my face that prompted my wife to ask what was wrong.
Bulls had better catch a forward wake up.
Well done Stormers – keep it up, and try not be Andy Murray when it counts.
Cheetahs – about time & also good for SA rugby
Sharks – still way to many problems, but a win is a win.
SA rugby looking strong, Heyneke must be a happy man.
2 Apr 2012, 07:10 am
@Slartibartfast(Slartibartfast)-14: I KNOW,its very disturbing. Can only hope He’s a girl
2 Apr 2012, 07:17 am
@Papoose(papaown)-16:
Aish Poose, operative word is unfortunately ‘he’! He admitted his man love a week or so ago.
2 Apr 2012, 07:22 am
could you guys write and article on the stormers without coming across as groupies…please..?.. journalistic integrity…tsk tsk
2 Apr 2012, 07:24 am
Ok…so we won with Craig…..but let me tell you something…he tried hard!
First think we learned from his previous games was that you cannot moan about the ref after the game…..Jean went to him on his dubious calls and confronted him right there…..so there was no running into change rooms and be protected the way refs are. Ever time Jean asked him right up and you could see the stress in his eyes.
At one moment I thought Craig was going to fall to his knees and beg the bulls to stop their dirty tricks…….There should have been at least two more yellow or two penalties earlier……he also killed the scrum contest in first halve with quick penalties against the stormers….making us work hard to get the upper hand before he just could not the solid Brock anymore. Well done formwards!!!
As for the backs. They are suffering from a coach who has coached running out of them. JP was normally comfortable to counter attack but looked very nervous when he did….this is due to AC coaching them to only consider the kick game!
The second try of the bulls was really bad reffing from all three……..I stopped counting forward passes at 3……yes we also got away with one but we did not score from one…..surely Craig should be dropped for this display…..just one game to bring him back to earth…he really thinks he is Gods gift to rugby!
Well done Stormers for beating a Bulls side hyped up by all the press and also showing the rest that we are here to go all the way!
2 Apr 2012, 07:43 am
As I was telling the Bulls fans on here last week. The Stormers pack is superior to the Bulls’. Now to see if the Stormers pack can stand up to the best overseas.
2 Apr 2012, 07:49 am
Stormers pack is looking awesome!! But this is a long season and injuries play a role! Lets see how the season pans out! Lots of rugby left!
2 Apr 2012, 07:50 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-15: Go ask the Sharks supporters how they felt when a green Kitshoff crunched the Boks first choice tighthead.
2 Apr 2012, 07:51 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-18:
> could you guys write and article on the stormers without coming across as groupies
JC probably wrote this article with a hardon
2 Apr 2012, 07:52 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-18: Whatever, what was the writing like after the bulls crushed the faded Reds team? They were writing as if the bulls could walk on water. Bulls writers/ fans are just as windgat, if not more so.
2 Apr 2012, 07:52 am
Beating at home one of the weakest Bulls team in seven years by 3 questionable points doesn’t make the Stormers’ pack a world beaters.
They badly needed Craig Joubert to wield his magic last 10 minutes to win, not much to sing about
It possible the NZ and Aus teams this year are even weaker than the Bulls, we shall find out real soon.
2 Apr 2012, 07:55 am
@Hondo(Hondo)-25:
Even Robbie Kempson, a ex-WP player said the penalty should have gone the other way
If Morne kicked better we would have heard complaints about the ref again
2 Apr 2012, 07:56 am
@Hoops(Hoops)-19:
> the bulls to stop their dirty tricks…….
Like your hooker did?
Did you see how many off the ball incidents he was involved in?
2 Apr 2012, 07:59 am
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-24:
Nope, the writers were used to the standards set by our 2007-2010 team, this youngsters still needs two years to mature
On the other hand, if you guys don’t deliver again this year, what will your excuse be?
2 Apr 2012, 08:03 am
How the hell the alkie looking Liebenburg was awarded Man of the Match we will never know…
Chilliboy was miles better…
Man of the Match could have/should have been:
Etsebeth
Greyling
Chilliboy
Grant
In that order…
2 Apr 2012, 08:10 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-15:
And I think that Grant is the ONLY option for the Boks right now, Lambie’s too fragile, Styen @ Hougaard are totally ineffective at that level while Butch has only 20 minutes of test level left in him.
Johan Goosen is the future but he needs to be managed properly by Heineke, and frankly, I don’t see that happening
2 Apr 2012, 08:11 am
Stormers are definately the team to beat this year. 5 / 5 says it all. They should at least win 2 games overseas, and back in SA it should only be worried about the Bulls and Sharks away. That will give them at least 12/16 games.
The thing that worries me though is the fact that they are not scoring tries. Not exactly sure, but i think they are at 7 tries.
If they keep winning its fine, but if they lose a couple the other teams will catch up with them.
2 Apr 2012, 08:12 am
@22 – BREAKDOWNBOY,
I am a sharks supporter, and was suitably impressed at that scrum showing. That said, I always felt that Jannie is weak, and very overrated as a player, and if he did not have his baby brother next to him, would fare even worse.
Honestly, I do not consider the sharks scrum as a measuring stick. Not with only 1 top notch player in their tight 5. No disrespect to Chadwick, he is a baby and will learn, the locks are tired & Jannie is plain k*k.
2 Apr 2012, 08:13 am
@HeavensGame – I do agree that I could have picked 29 other players as man of the match before Liebenberg. He was lucky not to be carded in that first 20 minutes while behaving like a steroid dosed teenager but anyway….
I’ll front up and say I am a bulls fan before making my main point. You can all call me sour but its not that. I think its valid.
There are to many games being decided by scrum penalties in the last few minutes of the game. It really seems like pure guesswork by the referees. Ask 10 “experts” and you will get 5 or 6 different first offenses at any scrum. The rucks are difficult enough to police but the scrums are a lottery. I think the refs just stand there praying that one of the props hands touches the ground because thats about the only time they have clear and 100% valid justification for a penalty. In all other cases there is a significant amount of guesswork going on.
I think the IRB have a real big issue on there hands with scrums. Gotta do something and I think they can start by changing all offences to short arms (with no option for a reset scrum).
2 Apr 2012, 08:13 am
Hondo – I feel for Grant, he is a great player who, if he had been playing behind a more dominant pack over the years, would be rated higher by those that count.
Watch him this season when he has a forward pack that gain al least parity up front.
2 Apr 2012, 08:16 am
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-23:
its like gushing puppy love..blegh!…
@BreakdownBoy(goodstuff)-24:
ar you seriously comparing a 50+ pointer statement of fact article to a ‘slimmest of margins 3 point dubious penalty call needed for victory’ bit of writing..?…seriously..?.
the strormers scrapped it…just… but its written as if they just landed a man on the farking moon.
2 Apr 2012, 08:17 am
@33 – Greenfan,
Wont work. Harlem globetrotter stuff. It will be 1 step closer to league.
Simple answer I believe.
1) The Attacking team should gain the benefit of the doubt.
2) We should stop the clock when the ref awards a scrum, and only start the clock when the ball comes out the back.
Scrums account for about 14-16 minutes of game time on average. When those dumba**e forwards are on the field for another 14 minutes, they will soon realise its in their best interests to keep the scrums up.
Also, this way, nobody can play for time.
2 Apr 2012, 08:18 am
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-26:
That was my thinking too,
That last minute penalty was clearly a bending of the result, Joubert could call for a reset scrum since both sides were pretty guilty, none was trying to scrum legally
2 Apr 2012, 08:25 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-34:
Grant has done well every season since 2006, his reputation was dented though when forced to play with the likes of Januarie and Conradie, one can see how good he is with DD’s service!
2 Apr 2012, 08:29 am
@Hondo,
I would agree. I was really impressed at DD’s service on Saturday. It was fast, exciting rugby.
2 Apr 2012, 08:30 am
@GreenFan(GreenFan)-33: Good post. Refs and lawmakers (or interpreters?) only have themselves to blame for the mess in the scrums… and the tight loose.
They are in the process of hybridiziing rugby… and fcking it up as the game we know it, at the same time.
2 Apr 2012, 08:32 am
@victoriabok
If a fan complains about a ref, I can understand it.
But when a commentator says that should not have been a penalty….
2 Apr 2012, 08:33 am
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-26: And if Craig called any of the three forward passes in the bulls last try’s movement the stormers would not have needed the last penalty. you see it is easy to call it after the game…. If Joe Pietersen kicked the conversion before halftime.. it woud have been 16 – 0… if JDJ’s pass went to Duvenhage he would have scored and the bulls would have been 21- 0 behind….
the fact is: The bulls were outplayed in every facet of the game. Both their tries came off stormers mistakes.. it was not well worked or great moves from bulls players. Rather just luck…
The other fact remains that the stormers still win games when they concede points in the second half and lose their lead… this speaks volumes of their character.
2 Apr 2012, 08:34 am
@BULLET(BULLET)-36: Generally the team going backwards drops the scrum, so the team going forward should get the penalty more often then not, unless they are using illegal tactics, like boring in or early engage etc. I think if referees could actually learn a hell of a lot by playing a bit in the front row themselves. If they are to be paid professionals and get flown around the world, they need to gain some first hand knowledge. So put them on a scrummaging course as a requirement for them to gain top level status. Its just guess work if you have never been in there, pure and simple, which is not good enough.
2 Apr 2012, 08:36 am
Help my gou, maar het iemand nie gesê die Stormers gaan nêrens kom sonder Rassie nie?
2 Apr 2012, 08:36 am
@McGuywer(McGuywer)-41: Ja off course!! I mean with all the Bulls ex players and pro bulls propaganda from supersport I believe every word these guys are saying.. i mean if Bic Vic said it should have been a penalty then surely it must be right…..
Come on!! grow a pair… Mathew Pierce and one stage looked like he was gonna puke from disgust with the Stormers win….
Why do you not mention the three forward passes in the move before Meisiekind scored??? Hey??
Suck it up… your team did NOT deserve to win this game.. finish en klaar
2 Apr 2012, 08:37 am
JC what a lo0ad of rubbish.
Go and look at the stats before you write , such rubbish.
First well done Strompies you won on the day.
The calls definatly went Sormers way. Liebenberg , Bekker ( High Tackle), Vermeulen must be the dirtiest players alive.
Well done to Sormers youngsters
Graig has no idea about scrums, even JDV said they milked a penalty the last scrum , Graig go and ask Kempson about scrumming in.
2 Apr 2012, 08:45 am
My take on the game:
Stormers frontrow Vs Bulls = Stormers won this comfortably! Brok and Kitshoff really scrummed well
Stormers Locks vs Bulls = Line out in my opinion was pretty even.. but Etzebeths play in general is osmething to behold.. he is pure bok material
Loosies = I do not think Spuitnaald |Spies had a bad game, but think his flankers got shown up against their stormers counterparts.. that last move from Koster keeping ball in hand was brilliant I must say.
9- 10 combo = Almost wanna call this on for the stormers after Morne did exactly what I predicted… pack in hind gear and he drops in the pocket… But hougie is a great player so I call it even.
Centres = Have to call this even as both team made the tackles that was needed….
Wings.. i still think Basson and Ndungane is about 90% of the time in front of the kicker with every kick Morne launches.. go watch the tapes… but for me the defense and workrate from the Stormers wings was superior.
Fullbacks.. Crusty struggled a few times and klein Percy did not do anything great… was upset with that missed kick after the try.. KLein Percy by a whisker..
2 Apr 2012, 08:48 am
@capebull(capebull)-46: Still not ready to call the stormers superior after Saturday hey?? Still have the Maak die bulle almal bokke mentality?
I find it funny that we were told not to bring the ref into it before the game and now every bull wants to do exactly that.. if the stormers did not get a penalty at that particular scrum.. they might have picked up the balll.. gained another 20 yards and got a penalty seconds later…
The bulls infringed at ruck time and mauls every time the stormers got in the 22 – 10 m line area…. they do this for years where they rather give away 3 than concede a try…
2 Apr 2012, 08:52 am
Can’t believe missed all the Rugga this past weekend!!
2 Apr 2012, 08:54 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-48: No Provvas, I said that the stormer youngsters were stars…..
Eben, Elstadt, Kolisi, but Bekker ,
but Vermeulen and Tiaan are thugs.
I also said , Rob Kempson and JDV also said they milked the penalty, Rob Kempson also said the Bulls were 55-45% in scrums, so don’t talk about mentality if you don’t understand Rugby but only work on emotion.
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