Stormers stem Red tide
20 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Stormers repel a late Reds rally to record an impressive 23-13 win in Brisbane.
The Stormers continue to deliver in the face of trying circumstances. They went into this game without Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers or Andries Bekker, and still they managed to play with the composure and resolve needed to topple the best Super Rugby has to offer.
Some will argue that the Stormers should have put this Reds side away by more, as the Queenslanders suffered some serious injuries early in the piece. Coach Ewen McKenzie would have been feeling a sick sense of deja vu as flyhalf Sam Lane and then centre Ben Tapuai left the field inside the first 10 minutes. At that point the Reds were already 10-0 down, and were battling for any sort of momentum.
But to dismiss the Reds’ effort under these circumstances would also detract from the Stormers’ achievement. The Reds fought hard to stay in the game, and as the clock wound down in the second half, the visitors were made to fight just as hard to keep the Reds at arm’s length.
At times the Stormers attacked with confidence and purpose, but it was another fantastic forward effort and titanic defensive display that earned them an important win. The Cape heavies made an impression at the collisions from the first minute, and maintained that intensity throughout. It was at the point of contact where they troubled the Reds, and in many instances created attacking opportunities.
It didn’t matter that the Stormers struggled for territory. The Reds pack battled to build momentum from the scrum and at the collisions, and the Stormers were quick to pounce on a turnover and unleash a backline that was in a mood to counter-attack.
It was a turnover that allowed the Stormers to win a lineout deep in the Reds’ half in the 10th minute. Juan de Jongh crashed it up before Peter Grant attacked the line. Grant then effected a telling offload in the tackle to Gio Aplon, and at 10-0 the visitors had raced to a good lead.
The Reds managed to settle as the half progressed, but showed a lack of discipline in that crucial period just before half-time. A penalty attempt by Ben Lucas dropped short and the Stormers ran it back at a disorganised Reds defence until they were deep in the opposition 22. Some terrific skills allowed the Stormers to keep the ball alive, and from a later phase Grant sniped again, reached for the tryline, and scored.
At 17-3 it appeared to be all over for the shell-shocked Reds. McKenzie had gone into this match with five forwards on his bench and the early injuries to Lane and Tapuai had forced him to field both of his backline reserves. The Reds were hanging on at half-time.
The Stormers showed their composure in the second stanza. It wasn’t a case of defending a 14-point lead, but more a case of understanding that the Reds were battling to trouble their forwards. And as the game continued, the Reds did indeed become more desperate.
The hosts had their chances to narrow the deficit, and turned down a few shots at goal in favour of a crack at the tryline. The decision proved flawed as Rob Simmons lost the ball over the line, and the Stormers defence managed to clear from a subsequent scrum. This was but one of many instances where a Reds venture into Stormers territory culminated in a frustrating turnover.
It was far from a perfect showing from the Stormers, and while their leaders pulled them through they missed Andries Bekker’s management skills at the lineout.
The visitors’ blew a few early opportunities through lineout turnovers in good attacking positions. They also gifted a try to James Horwill in the 63rd minute when replacement hooker Deon Fourie missed his jumper at a set piece five metres from his own tryline.
But the Reds never looked like closing the gap. Their desperation grew as the full-time hooter drew close, and they passed up a shot at goal in favour of another dip at the tryline.
Again it ended in a turnover. They managed to win another penalty which Mike Harris duly slotted, but then they blew any chance of a draw or indeed a losing bonus point when they conceded a three-pointer at the other end of the park.
The Stormers still lack the killer instinct to be considered a real title prospect, but what is clear is that there is a tremendous belief in their playing pattern.
Their defence was the difference on this occasion and takes them to two wins from three tour matches. With only the Force to play, they have a good chance of making that record three from four and stretching their lead at the top of the South African conference.
664 Comments
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20 Apr 2012, 10:35 am
Province Dragons
20 Apr 2012, 10:38 am
Come on Stormers, please prove me wrong, but I think you will come up short today
20 Apr 2012, 10:45 am
@willievz(willievz)-2: stormers to prevail.
20 Apr 2012, 10:51 am
JDJ at 12, Stormers guaranteed to get behind the defensive line.
20 Apr 2012, 10:53 am
Hurdles to score 3 tries and leap the goalposts in a single bound
20 Apr 2012, 10:58 am
Damn I don’t have my home comp with me and I forgot the web stream link I normally use. Any help on a web stream again?
20 Apr 2012, 11:02 am
Come on Stormers. Get back to the top of that log! Good luck to all their fans.
20 Apr 2012, 11:08 am
They say freak,
When you’re singled out,
The red, well it filters through.
So lay down, the threat is real,
When his sight goes red again.
Seeing red again,
Seeing red again.
20 Apr 2012, 11:11 am
We all bleed red, all taste rain, all fall down, lose our way,
We all say words we regret, we all cry tears we all bleed red,
Sometimes were strong, sometimes were weak; sometimes were hurt
It cuts deep; we live this life breath to breath; were all the same
We all bleed r-e-e-e-d-d-d
20 Apr 2012, 11:13 am
Ten thousand feet fun-fair
Convinved that I don’t care
It’s safe as houses I swear
I was just sitting musing
The virtues of cruising
When altitude dropping
My ears started popping
One more Reds nightmare
20 Apr 2012, 11:17 am
What are you gonna do?
No way for you to save me.
What are you gonna do?
Everything that you gave me is painted in Reds.
20 Apr 2012, 11:20 am
@Cheetahs27(Cheetahs27)-7: Thank you!
At least there is someone here who hasn’t been at the glue today
20 Apr 2012, 11:22 am
I’m in the mood to hit the streets, that’s what I bloody said
I’m in the mood to hit the streets, and paint the fu.ckers Reds
We’re going to go out nuts tonight, chasing down the browns
We’re going to go down to the pubs, and take this ******* town
So c’mon here we go again, you and I
We’re going to paint this fu.cking town reds
20 Apr 2012, 11:22 am
Congrats Landers that last ruck was a thing of brutal beauty
STOOOOOOOOOOOOOORMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:24 am
One more Reds nightmare…
Pop!
20 Apr 2012, 11:24 am
@Michael(mikeybrass)-6:
I’m watching on vipbox . tv
20 Apr 2012, 11:25 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-14: Phew. I was worried the Blues would screw up my predictions. 1/1
Come on Stormmmmmmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrsssssssss jou lekker ding !
20 Apr 2012, 11:27 am
Wish I could watch this game. Keep me posted gents
20 Apr 2012, 11:27 am
@wpstormerbok(wpstormerbok)-16: Dankie
20 Apr 2012, 11:29 am
@willievz(willievz)-18: Headphones
20 Apr 2012, 11:29 am
The Oz pool is very weak this year. I am afraid that some of the teams would have trouble beating england by more than a few tries.
20 Apr 2012, 11:30 am
go stormers
20 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
kostaz web always worked for me abroad to watch the games…
If the stormers do not beat the reds they can forget any title hopes… Go my boytjies!! Klap those reds silly man!!
Nice game Landers…
20 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
need to dominate upfront and attack the flyhalf and inside center channel
20 Apr 2012, 11:36 am
This is actually a crappy Reds team. As evidenced by their performances to date.
Stormers shouldn’t have any trouble.
20 Apr 2012, 11:36 am
stevewarren – Agree. The stormers backline is very flairy looking, they must run that blasted ball and score some tries, more than the reds hopefully!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:41 am
Stormers penalty within the first minute of the game.
Grant to take the attempt at goal.
20 Apr 2012, 11:42 am
And it’s OVERRRRR!
20 Apr 2012, 11:42 am
http://kostatz.webs.com/ is not working anybody know of another site to watch the game?
20 Apr 2012, 11:42 am
I am staying in Queensland and am unable to watch this game. Better service in Shaghai.
20 Apr 2012, 11:42 am
@Provvas(Provvas)-23: Kostaz, that’s it!
20 Apr 2012, 11:43 am
Nice catch by Habana from the kickoff, set the tone for everybody to follow.
Hopefully those early phases are a sign of things to come.
Mooi skop Grant
20 Apr 2012, 11:43 am
michael – well it isn’t working!!!!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:44 am
@race of tan(race of tan)-29: Working for me?
Damn missed the first penalty.
20 Apr 2012, 11:45 am
Juan de Jongh tackles Sam Lane out of the game.
20 Apr 2012, 11:45 am
hi guys! what is the link for live streaming again pleeeeeease.????????
20 Apr 2012, 11:46 am
I watched the full replay of the Crusaders game and the refereeing was bad both ways (starting with Carter being called for a knock on in the opening minutes when he kicked forward and Crusaders were chasing for a try). The numerous accusations on here that the referee had cheated or was biased were just plain bolllocks.
it was just **** refereeing, not biased
20 Apr 2012, 11:46 am
http://kostatz.webs.com/ works fine for me
20 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
Nice Aplon!!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
Turnover to the smallest man on the field, Gio Aplon!
20 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
@logie_Jumpbuck(logie_Jumpbuck)-36: kostatz.webs. com/
20 Apr 2012, 11:47 am
@chch(chch)-37:
Agreed.
I think most have moved on.
20 Apr 2012, 11:48 am
@chch(chch)-37:
I assume you mean the Crusaders Stormers game.
Agreed. No cheating. The Stormers gained from a try from a forward pass that wasn’t called, and the Crusaders gained from an illegal turnover at the ruck which led to their only try.
In the end the Crusaders deserved to win that game. The refereeing was poor both ways.
20 Apr 2012, 11:48 am
Wow!
Another thumping tackle by De Jongh.
20 Apr 2012, 11:48 am
Aplon is on FFFFIIIIRRREEEEEEEEE
20 Apr 2012, 11:49 am
Aplon SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:49 am
TACKLE DE JONGH
20 Apr 2012, 11:49 am
APPIES!!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:50 am
~YYYYEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSS
Fantastic Grant and what a pass and finish by Aplon!!!!
(Hondo chokes on his OK Bazaars cookies)
20 Apr 2012, 11:50 am
Who said that backline can’t run, see what difference there is when JDV is out?
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