Stormers strangle Highlanders
7 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched another impressive defensive performance earn the Stormers an important 21-6 victory in Dunedin.
It’s got to the point where the Stormers’ imposing defence has invaded the collective mind of the opposition.
It was obvious from the outset that the Highlanders had formulated a special plan to fracture that renowned defensive line. Had they executed that game plan with more accuracy, or indeed varied their attack more, they may have succeeded where so many teams have failed.
As it was, they didn’t manage to cross the tryline for 80 minutes. Their ploys to grubber through the defence or launch the high ball on a short Stormers back three proved unsuccessful, as each time the visitors managed to scramble back and secure possession.
The Highlanders produced another massive effort at the breakdown, but couldn’t make their turnovers count. The Stormers were far better with ball in hand than in previous matches, although it was from the turnover where they proved to be the most clinical.
Two first-half opportunities culminated in two tries, as the backline showed what it’s capable of when the players combine successfully. The first try was the product of pure pressure, the power of the Stormers forwards forcing the ball to squirt out on the Highlanders’ side of the ruck. Jean de Villiers hacked the ball ahead, and a second touch with the boot set up a foot race between Gio Aplon and the cover defence.
The second try was set up and scored by fullback Joe Pietersen, who had one of his best games in a Stormers jersey. Another failed attempt to disrupt the Stormers defence, this time via a Chris Noakes chip kick, handed the visitors possession 10 metres from their own tryline. Pietersen collected the ball and launched the counter-attack, and then featured two more times in the build-up to the try. A great offload by Aplon was collected by the Stormers No 15 who then showed the extent of skills by chipping and regathering for a spectacular finish.
It was during this period where the Highlanders botched numerous chances. They spilled too much ball in contact, and while they failed to breach the Stormers defence, their good work at the breakdown didn’t garner reward.
Noakes goaled two penalties in the first half, but also sent two attempts wide. Looking back, it was a crucial stage of the game, and so the Highlanders will surely regret these misses.
While it wasn’t the most dominant or clinical performance, special mention should go to the Stormers forwards. On the back of a bruising encounter with the Bulls, and after a tiring journey to New Zealand, they maintained their intensity throughout.
The breakdown was a mess and the kickoffs were not great, but they will take confidence from the fact that they went to Dunedin and beat one of the better packs in the competition.
Trailing 15-6 with 50 minutes to play, and with a stonewall in front of them, an element of desperation crept into the Highlanders’ game. They effected some terrific turnovers but too often kicked possession away or forced the pass. They managed to make a few linebreaks but once again, the scrambling defence of the Stormers killed the hosts’ momentum.
Referee Chris Pollock eventually lost his patience with the Stormers forwards, who began to concede penalty after penalty at the breakdown. He yellow-carded hooker Tiaan Liebenberg in the 66th minute, and this looked to be the break the Highlanders needed to initiate a comeback.
They threw everything they had at the Stormers during that period, but again failed to show the accuracy or the decisiveness to trouble the visitors’ defence. The Cape pack was massive in the dying stages, hitting Highlanders ball-carriers backwards and snaffling some important turnovers.
In the end, it was the Stormers, through Peter Grant, that had the final say with a penalty. Tamati Ellison looked to have crossed the line in the last minute, but a video replay showed that a desperate tackle attempt by Pietersen had forced him into touch.
The result sees the Stormers maintaining their winning record, but more importantly they have started their Australasian tour with a victory.
It doesn’t get any easier with trips to Christchurch and Brisbane scheduled for the next two weeks, but having beaten the Bulls and Highlanders, the Stormers will have every reason to feel confident.
426 Comments
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7 Apr 2012, 15:01 pm
With Schalks return you can play Burger 6 Kolisi 7 and Vermeulen 8.
Play Elstadt lock and give Bekker or Etzebeth a rest.
I rate Elstadt at 7 but he can play lock as well. Great player this guy
7 Apr 2012, 15:07 pm
Elstadt a very old school blindsider, ie close to no 4, not a great ballcarrier but he’s just massive in the tightloose – he and etsebeth are perfect together in same pack – those 2 in parallel have turbocharged wp pack – kitshoff dropping off breakdown fir defense today – not sure if instructed to do that – but he must also hit bd – stormers were counter-rucked several times tonight which was a first this year – fiersome contest tho – going to be some sore bodies and it’s tge crusaders up next – stormers got to watch saders scrum with Crockett and franks otherwise it’s not as powerful team as years gone by – still v hard to beat them tuis..
7 Apr 2012, 15:09 pm
De Jong tries to do too much on his own ……….this is becoming a habit of his…….still selfish on the ball
7 Apr 2012, 15:11 pm
Speaking of turbos, where are speedo fkn turboreverse and his partner in crime these days?
Surely they can blog from the tub..
7 Apr 2012, 15:13 pm
yes……….Stormers must be more aggro………counter ruck……….they lost possession a few times today
7 Apr 2012, 15:14 pm
***** chris there’s bound to be some broakback sudsing up in the tub after the result this morning..
7 Apr 2012, 15:15 pm
The Stormers gameplan has been to start with guns blazing then absorbing the pressure and playing composed percentage rugby in the second stanza.
Schalk will fit into this plan quite easily if he plays as impact in the last 20-30 mins.
If you sacrifice Kolisi and play a Koster, Vermuelen and Schalk combo, you biting the hand that feeds you.
7 Apr 2012, 15:21 pm
Anyone seen or heard from the Stormer haters? HG, Woodenpoof, Tac, etc…
They can’t possibly come and congratulate the Stormers now can they?
7 Apr 2012, 15:21 pm
@cab(cab)-404:
Gwantie and JR are chomping at the bit to post…..
Seems like the Stormers have progressed quite nicely after they went AWOL.
So it would be best for them to stay away and not jinx the team.
7 Apr 2012, 15:25 pm
Yip B&W seems they gone AWOL now that stormers hitting their stripes..
7 Apr 2012, 15:27 pm
@cab(cab)-410:
It must be painfull!!!
7 Apr 2012, 15:27 pm
Koster should remain on the bench – his best position by far!
7 Apr 2012, 15:44 pm
Mooi stormers!!! Now i called this on bru. We do what saders did normally. Suffocate opposition until they have no breath left. Hope iwen and jempson watched iur front row murder these landers. Give credit niw!???
7 Apr 2012, 15:46 pm
As good as Kolisi has been playing he is not in ScHulk burgers class.ScHulkie plays with the big boys the best at what he does therell never b another player with the tackle rate of burger.
7 Apr 2012, 16:20 pm
Kolisi is the new kid on the block and he’s doing very well. Schalk slows the game down and for some reason slips tackles nowadays. He still has a high workrate though.
7 Apr 2012, 17:45 pm
Well done, Stormers!
7 Apr 2012, 20:26 pm
Pee Wee one the few here who actually know whats cutting… Kolisi is a thousand fold a better more productive contributor in current standing to Burger any day of any week … and disrupt this setup for the sake of the overrated hero worshiped slow coach first receiver and Stormers go all the way back to base one all over again.. especially if you give him captains armband.. that is just plain suicidal idiocy…
7 Apr 2012, 20:30 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-417: yaaaawwwwnnnn
7 Apr 2012, 21:39 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-417: When Burger does come back 9regardless of what anyone thinks, he will), he must go to 7. Kolisi is a better 6. Jean must stay captain.
7 Apr 2012, 22:33 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-372: As a Sharks supporter I reaaly enjoyed this match.The best aspect of the match was the fact that we have 2 world class locks in SA yet again. Bekker and Etsebeth are the new Matfield/Bakkies combination. No doubt in my mind(I wish they were playing for the Sharks.)We are going to see a lot of them in the future. Playing in the same pack as these two players the rest of most forward players will look good.WELL DONE!!
8 Apr 2012, 00:12 am
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-412:
Agree. He is doing very well coming off the bench.
@Hoops(Hoops)-413:
“Mooi stormers!!! Now i called this on bru. We do what saders did normally. Suffocate opposition until they have no breath left. Hope iwen and jempson watched iur front row murder these landers. Give credit niw!???”
So wil ek eendag dronk wees as ek groot is. :lol
8 Apr 2012, 04:09 am
Burger is not a very smart player and slips tackles, and runs straight up into defense. Kolisi is my choice, plays very well.
8 Apr 2012, 05:02 am
Stormers performance last night sent a chill up all Nz Rugby supporters. Fantastic defense, no the best defensive effort by any team for a long time.
8 Apr 2012, 06:45 am
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-423:
Agree 100% The defense was excellent
Landers who like to run with ball a lot could not break the gain line much
They should have kicked a bit more
8 Apr 2012, 23:49 pm
I remember the Crusaders had a some very vocal support from a small section of the crowd at Newlands last year. Hopefully the South Africans living in Oz can return the favour. We also lost that game so it’s 2 favours we owe them.
10 Apr 2012, 10:19 am
Brilliant win for the stormers. The scary thing is is that the Stormers are playing test match rugby!! Big defence and keeping the game the tight, however this type of rugby takes its toll on the body!!!!!
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