Ruthless Saders give Stormers free lesson
16 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI writes the Stormers will need more than guts to end their 11-year trophy drought.
Consider the term ‘brave defeat’. Which word ultimately matters?
That the Stormers showed tremendous valour in Christchurch is not up for debate. They lost both of their starting locks in the first half, and still they managed to stand up to an All Blacks-studded Crusaders pack. They lost Rynhardt Elstadt to an absurd call from referee Chris Pollock in the final quarter, and still they managed to collect a losing bonus point.
But brave defeats are still defeats. There should be no consolation for title aspirants when they drop a game against other big contenders. The Stormers should not find solace in the fact that they went to Christchurch and pushed the seven-time champs close. The reality is it was a game the Stormers could have won had they been more bloody-minded.
It was the difference between the two sides. The Crusaders have a knack of winning games they shouldn’t, it’s become something of a trademark. They may not dominate a fixture from start to finish but they make the most of their opportunities, however few they are in number. This was once again highlighted in the most recent clash with the Stormers.
There are some Stormers fans who will aim their frustration at referee Chris Pollock. While I agree that Pollock had a howler last Saturday, I wouldn’t say he cost the Cape side the game. If anything Pollock was consistent, handing out dubious yellow cards to both teams and missing the sleight of hand at both sides of the breakdown.
But which team made the most of the referee’s mistakes? The Stormers benefited from a Pollock gaffe in the build-up to Bryan Habana’s try. A knock on by Joe Pietersen wasn’t spotted by Pollock or his assistants, and so the try stood at what was an important period of the contest.
The Stormers suffered a terrible blow when Andries Bekker and Eben Etzebeth left the field with injuries in the first half, but they had a fantastic opportunity to take the lead towards the end of the second quarter. Crusaders prop Wyatt Crockett was carded for an innocuous tackle and so the hosts went a man down for 10 minutes.
It’s not clear why the Stormers are unable to take advantage in these situations. The Hurricanes were down to 13 men in the first round match against the Stormers, but the Cape side still battled to breach the Hurricanes line. It was embarrassing to see flyhalf Gary van Aswegen kicking a drop goal after a 15-man Stormers attack failed to penetrate a 13-man Hurricanes defence.
Looking back, we can say that impotency proved a sign of things to come.
Last Saturday, the Stormers scored three points while Crockett was off the park, but also conceded three at the other end. The Stormers should have piled on the points at this stage, and were made to regret blowing such an opportunity later in the piece.
The Crusaders were ruthless by comparison. When Elstadt was sin-binned they scored nine points. From there, they continued to pressure the Stormers and with the visitors trailing by 10 points that pressure told, with the Stormers making some basic errors in their own 22. The Crusaders finished this game well but the match was won while Elstadt was in the bin.
There is no denying the Stormers were at a disadvantage having lost both locks, and that they did remarkably well to emerge with a losing bonus point. But looking at the game as a whole and how close they came to recording their first-ever win in Christchurch, they should be disappointed more than anything else.
That it is not a new thing to squander such opportunities should be cause for concern. They had the Sharks on the rack in round two when Ross Skeate was yellow-carded in the 60th minute. They should have closed out the game but only scored three points, and when Skeate returned the Sharks launched a fierce challenge that so nearly forced an upset.
When they hosted the Bulls, the Stormers had a golden opportunity to extend their lead when lock Flip van der Merwe was carded in the 42nd minute. But again they wilted under the pressure, they didn’t seem to enjoy the advantage. They didn’t score again until the 62nd minute. In fact it was the Bulls who scored 10 unanswered points while Van der Merwe was off the field.
The Stormers have shown a lot of guts this season, the manner in which they defend shows their incredible courage under fire. There is a big difference, however, between courage and ruthlessness.
Being brave isn’t enough to win championships. The Stormers need to start showing some killer instinct if they want to be genuine title contenders rather than also-rans.
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405 Comments
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16 Apr 2012, 13:01 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-238:
I am ambitious and have a career so nz is a no no.
The housing bubble in Aus is starting to burst but the speculation is that they will have a
soft landing,so also not a option.
I am happy here,got a good job and enjoy my work.
@cane(cane)-240:
More South Africans is returning to SA,this was found after research was done by ACSA.
Your country has a serious brain drain of youngsters going to study overseas and wont
return so you need those expats.
16 Apr 2012, 13:01 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-237:
I do exaggerate Dangerman………………………………………………………sometimes.
16 Apr 2012, 13:02 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-249: haha like you ever had a chance.
16 Apr 2012, 13:03 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-251:
“”………………………….More South Africans is returning to SA,”
This will not doubt improve the IQ of All Nations involved.
16 Apr 2012, 13:03 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-246:
“sa the good news” is n baie kief website.
dis die moeite werd om inteteken vir hulle nuusbrief wat hulle so elke 2 weke e-mail.
16 Apr 2012, 13:03 pm
@grant10(grant100)-248:
yeah i know.
Ref of the year, he did get his gold watch as well.Trying to keep the tradition going.
16 Apr 2012, 13:04 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-253:
lol
I know
16 Apr 2012, 13:04 pm
@cane(cane)-252: me too.
its one of my strong points.
16 Apr 2012, 13:05 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-249: Only when it’s 100% SA in 2026
16 Apr 2012, 13:05 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-236: No mention of your ANC masters deep pockets being filled with gold coins in that report?Not trying to be controversial here ,but KZN nearly on a par with the EC in terms of corruption.
16 Apr 2012, 13:06 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-255: dit klink lekker, ons het almal ‘n bietjie goeie nuus nodig so nou en dan.
16 Apr 2012, 13:08 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-260: no, they left any mention of that out but then again they didnt mention economic backwaters like the cape either
16 Apr 2012, 13:08 pm
yeah Hurricane, you guys haven’t been punished for your RWC cheating sins – expect a earthquake very soon! – same way Saders were punished for their cheating in Super Rugby … the wheel turns
16 Apr 2012, 13:08 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-247:
8)
I think it was likely one of THEM, that tossed the can at Burden.
Probably aiming at the Ref, but WTF, with only one eye they are not so hot at throwing events.
16 Apr 2012, 13:08 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-255: Sat in on a talk from the website creator – Simon Pennington. Really good stuff, maybe a bit one-sided – but a good counterbalance to the normal negativity.
16 Apr 2012, 13:10 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-260:
Sa has it problems,I am not denying it.
I am a DA man,but let me add that the ANC has some good people aswell.
16 Apr 2012, 13:11 pm
@Bismarck Burger(Bismarck Burger)-265:
You need balance,it is good.
I give the keewees on here balance who claim that nz is utopia.
16 Apr 2012, 13:12 pm
@grant10(grant100)-263: not cool buddy, not cool at all.
you need to finesse your banter filter a bit more and sharpish.
16 Apr 2012, 13:14 pm
@cane(cane)-264:
NZ is becoming a retirement village due to youngsters leaving,the expats
are starting to define the culture of nz as kiwi youngsters cannot care.
a old population is not good,ireland has the same problem.
Be thankfull for the immigrants coming to your country,they did make the requirments
to enter…
16 Apr 2012, 13:15 pm
@grant10(grant100)-263:
well i have been through 10000 earth quakes over the last year and a half. Whats another one.
Yep, those saders were taught a lesson, what was it again, 7 time super champs.
Anyway hope nothing happens to yourself, especailly an earthquake, i know, its not nice seeing your kids screaming most nights
16 Apr 2012, 13:15 pm
If SA is supposed to be a powerhouse of international rugby why do they not hold any trophies at any level or age group?
16 Apr 2012, 13:16 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-262: Well,at least i am living in a clean enviroment in my economic backwater unlike the filthy conditions in Durban.My sister-in-law is from Durban and she refuses to go back there.Wonder why?
16 Apr 2012, 13:16 pm
haha, lucky for the stormers the saders didnt charge for the lesson or it couldve looked nasty.
the stormers hopefully dont fall completely to pieces on their tour now.
16 Apr 2012, 13:17 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-270: Leave the idiot alone .
16 Apr 2012, 13:18 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-272:
cape flats clean?
like any big city it al depends where you stay.
next you are going to tell us isipingo and umhlanga are the same i suppose.
16 Apr 2012, 13:19 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-268:
Without Smitty to kick around, Grantie is a little lost.
He is a legend here on Keo, and will be his old self again, soon enough.
16 Apr 2012, 13:20 pm
you have earthquakes we have quotas and “i can’t dance” habana … much worse
16 Apr 2012, 13:24 pm
Grant you are such a huge A hole certain things are not said even in jest.
You crossed a big line there,love to see you squirm your way out of this one.
By the way I am involved with John Smit’s farewell game and they are looking for a few guys to hold the tackle bags,and your name has cropped up ,are you interested.
16 Apr 2012, 13:25 pm
Cane when someone immigrates to nz they become new zealanders.
they are yours now.
16 Apr 2012, 13:26 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-241: All the more proof for the big fix…
16 Apr 2012, 13:26 pm
@mad eye(mad eye)-278:
he has painted himself into a corner now
he is trying to squirm out
i would say people dying and people losing loved ones is worse than quotas in rugby…
16 Apr 2012, 13:26 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-270: eish sorry bud, not cool at all.
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-272: seriously? you want to now getinto a co ck measuring contest because fern posted an article about a dug out port being created in durbs?
shame man, just enjoy your surroundings buddy, you dont need my affirmation to make CT pleasant ok?
16 Apr 2012, 13:27 pm
@greentea(greentea)-271: there’s only one trophy that matters, the CC one..
why, the Lions were crowned champs of SA, I think they won it before this years Super comp… thats how tough it is
can’t wait to see the Kings play next year,…
16 Apr 2012, 13:27 pm
@rangerman(rangerman)-273:
Let’s hope so,backup locks should be good enough to man up.Poor sad sharks tho’ are bound to get thrashed in their own back yard by a fired up chiefs team,gonna blame the dew again imo?
16 Apr 2012, 13:28 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-275: Go clean up your city centre first before we venture outside of it.Unlike you an rangerman,there are hundreds of thousands of Durban residents that are not happy with the corruption of your ANC masters and the disgusting state of your inner city.I went their once and vowed never to return.
16 Apr 2012, 13:28 pm
@grant10(grant100)-277:
OH well, obviously you have never been through a quake cos i would personally have Habana anytime.
OK night all, getting a bit late for me.
16 Apr 2012, 13:29 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-269:
Why don’t you stick to a subject you know something about, whatever that might be?
Have you ever given thought to the possibility that New Zealand has an ageing population because of a shift to sustained low fertility and low mortality rates.
You’re simplistic views on issues you clearly know farkall about are quite embarrasing, really.
16 Apr 2012, 13:29 pm
guys its not grant10.
its a nic stealer.
16 Apr 2012, 13:29 pm
@cane(cane)-276: I don’t think this is the same guy.
16 Apr 2012, 13:30 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-280:
Yes it is HG
@rangerman(rangerman)-282:
All good ranger.
Night all
16 Apr 2012, 13:31 pm
@greentea(greentea)-271:
Surely they got something for coming 8= @ the RWC.
A minature Webb Ellis or something.
A bag of peanuts.
A plastic tiki maybe?
16 Apr 2012, 13:31 pm
@poppa69(poppa69)-283:
it was serious questions lets hope we get an answer
16 Apr 2012, 13:34 pm
@cane(cane)-291:
he he stop it, Houston has a problem will crack
16 Apr 2012, 13:34 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-287: Thanks Robzim.This guy is an absolute disgrace to come here,on a rugby blog, with this load of ****.He is just a stirrer of note in my opinion.
16 Apr 2012, 13:34 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-285:
I have 2 homes,not one are in DBN.
I am a DA voter.
@Robzim(Robzim)-287:
The exodus of kiwis to aus is a reality.
Salaries are higher in aus than nz,reality.
Weather and lifestyle is better in aus,reality.
16 Apr 2012, 13:35 pm
@greentea(greentea)-292: it was the refs that stopped them
16 Apr 2012, 13:37 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-294:
Ask poppa why he as a kiwi are living in aus
16 Apr 2012, 13:37 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-289: @rangerman(rangerman)-288:
My apologises to the REAL Grant.
I should have known.
16 Apr 2012, 13:38 pm
@stormerforlife1(stormerforlife1)-294:
Diff in pay for jobs in aus compared to nz is on avg R80 000 per year…
16 Apr 2012, 13:39 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-297: too many Saffas now live in Auckland, dont want my kids picking up SA language… I want them to sound like they dont have a speech impediment..
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