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, 21:18 pm
Gatskop? Lol. Disagree groot seun.
20 Apr 2012, 21:21 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-441:
another sharkievarkie bananaboy last bastion hopes and dreams siding with the blue suede shoes enemy.. well whatsoever is new around these parts?… Bulls will side with Sharks and Sharks will side with Bulls.. and ALL will side with whoever when it comes to Stormers on the horizon.. because Stormers hold the fear induced mania that threatens their so called arse creep bumchum legionary ‘supremacy’ in the SA rugby landscape..
Stormers fck BOTH Sharks and Bulls into oblivion this year.. as long as they leave Schalk off the captaincy carousel and use him purely as an impact off bench and do NOT fck around with the balance created by Vermeulen at back with Kolisi and Elstadt and Carr putting in the action from the side of scrum…and Koster at 8 when required off bench.
20 Apr 2012, 21:22 pm
Seriously though, I like JdV. Always have. Great organizer in defense. Problem is he is injury prone, just like Schalk and Bekker. Not suits le for Bok captaincy.
20 Apr 2012, 21:24 pm
Skop #452
That is hogwash. Supporters only side with others as long as it suits them
20 Apr 2012, 21:26 pm
@cab(cab)-449: bring him back and we are toast..
Have you NOT been witness to Stormers SUDDEN reincarnation of supremacy they held in the good old days when loose forwards played as a committed combination of team ethic.. and NOT your blue eyed fckng wonder boy fcking up the works…
Burger could do squat against Bulls.. Reds.. Crusaders 2 years on the trot in recent years.. soon as he is GONE.. Stormers are suddenly putting it together like NEVER before… we WIN the close encounters when Burger is NOT there.. when he’s on the field calling the shots in close encounter affairs.. we ALWAYS come off 2nd best.. where you BEEN the past how many years or you STILL can’t see sh’t for toffee apples YET??
20 Apr 2012, 21:26 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-452: Now you are talking bullshit , I;ve been touting how good the Stormers have been looking for 2 years, you just seem to have a block when it comes to a Sharks supporter having a good opinion about any team other than the Bulls. The Bulls are a damn good franchise and what they have done with a relatively new side is amazing , but they haven’t hit the road yet. I luv the Sharks but not more than the game of rugby itself.
20 Apr 2012, 21:32 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-441:
Stegman is NOT back for them, not even on the bench!
I like the sound of Bulls whipping Brumbies…..Those ‘ponies’ need some disipline!
How are you doing btw?
20 Apr 2012, 21:33 pm
very well thanks, hows your running and hows the Cotswolds?
20 Apr 2012, 21:33 pm
JdV is best candidate for Bok captaincy under current situation… Meyer does NOT need to bring some dead and buried f’ng has been dinosaur out of extinction to be his captain when he has the crux of leadership ingenuity that JdV can muster in a team.. WAY WAY better than Spies or Daniel or Strauss or Strauss or FdP or ANY one else in SA rugby right now…
And Vermeulen would get my vote as 2IC .. hard nut hardegat do or die hero soldier in the Juan Smith mold that will put the likes of Spies and even Alberts to shame….
JdV should have been PdV’s captain all the last 4 years and how much you wanna bet we would have CREAMED the opposition without J. Smit fcking up the goddamn works.. Matfield not as good a captain as JdV.. JdV should have captained Boks a LONG time ago.. him or Juan Smith.. neither Matfield OR Smit since 2008.
and Definitely NOT Burger or FdP.. NEVER in a thousand years…
20 Apr 2012, 21:35 pm
Yeah Schalk not what he once was, but how can you call yourself a stormers and bok supporter?
If there is one bugger in south Africa who gives 100% in every single game it’s schalk burger – stormers pack looking shithot with all the new winderboys blowing fire outa theirass but burger been doing out while they winning, while they losing, year after year – gdam legend! that is guts personified.
20 Apr 2012, 21:37 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-455:
I have to say my last memory of Schalk Burger on a rugby field before he was injured was that fantastic offload of him that sent Aplon away for his try against the Hurricanes. it can only be good to have him back, perhaps not as a captain, but surely as part of the 22 at least.
20 Apr 2012, 21:39 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-443:
I stood next to a cardboard cut out of JDV in Durban,it was amazing he was flipping huge, that was the closest that I have got to the Stormer Skipper.
But the Percy v JDV debate….. Who won the RWC for SA ?
20 Apr 2012, 21:40 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-461:
My last memory of Schalk is me thinking…..
“Has that bloke not heard of hair conditioner”!!
He is so ‘fly away’!
20 Apr 2012, 21:44 pm
Burger gives 100% of himself and in so doing he fcks the team to hell’ Burger fck’d Boks out the Wc with the Rassie f’ng brainwave of Burger the goddamn hero useless hopeless ball carrying moron who ran the entire game long INTO the opposition and TURNED over on the deck.. and the only ONE to gift wrap the Wallabies the only try of the game.
Since when do I have to be a f’ng moron Burger disciple to be a Bok’s or Stormers supporter.. is same as saying I must be a f’ng John Smit disciple before I’m a Bok supporter…??
Burger fck’s Both Stormers and Boks to hell… I do NOT want him to come stuff up the works as he does every time.. if it aint eye gauging or losing the ball on the ground in front of our posts its fcking up the balance in the team or carrying the ball at first receiver where he IS NOT WELCOME..!!
Burger must stay AWAY from captaincy and first receiver ball carrier and Both Boks and Stormers will be one hell of a long way further better off….
20 Apr 2012, 21:45 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-458:
All good here thank you. Enjoying my running (when injuries allow)!! lol
The Cotswolds are glorious though thank you, are you planning to visit again? I often think of you when I drive past the little shop in Burford!!
20 Apr 2012, 21:46 pm
@carol(carol)-462:
Skoppy never compared Jean to Percy as a rugby player.
He only said that Jean is a thousand times a better catch for a “chick”.
My wife agrees with Skoppy.
20 Apr 2012, 21:46 pm
So glad HM is coach. Such peace of mind.
20 Apr 2012, 21:47 pm
Well done stormers !!!!
20 Apr 2012, 21:48 pm
@carol(carol)-463:
Dont be like that now.
Poor Schalk is losing his hair, only got a few longish “slings” left.
I guess if that happens to a bloke, the last thing he worries about is hair conditioner.
20 Apr 2012, 21:49 pm
Well done stormers !!!! The stormers march on
20 Apr 2012, 21:50 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-466:
Your wife must prefer brains to brawn!! lol
20 Apr 2012, 21:51 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-467: HM is proving to be a bloody chicken sh’t bang broek.. running like a cowardly baby up Matfield and FdP’s overrated hero worshiped useless dead beat klaar gelag backsides…
If Meyer plays those two f’ng has been’s and gets whipped by England he should get FIRED fior being a cowardly chicken arsed bang broek with so much talent at his beck and call and he goes for his f’ng has been insurance policies of Matfield and FdP I hope he f’ng CHOKES on them both !!
20 Apr 2012, 21:53 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-467:
if it was not for the “sounds” he is making about bringing back all the has beens i would agree with you re the peace of mind.
He got the pedigree and seems to know a lot about motivating people.
lets see if he can bring a more diversified group of people together to function as a team- somehow i think he might eventually.
20 Apr 2012, 21:53 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-466:
To give Skop his due (and your wife) perhaps conversation would be better with Jean, but Percy is terribly endearing and sort of cute!
However he has not taken me up on my offer of meeting for beer on my last two visits to CT.
I am actually quite pi$$ed off with him to be honest!!
20 Apr 2012, 21:53 pm
@carol(carol)-471:
Percy got no brawn.. where you see Percy with brawn?.. JdV beats Percy hands down in BOTH brains and brawn.. and in simple human manly good looks… you gotta have cataracts over your eyes if you can’t see the difference in quality of both brains and brawn.. and simply manly good looks between Percy and JdV…
20 Apr 2012, 21:55 pm
@carol(carol)-471:
I have to do supper, but will look with interest at your replies!
Perhaps we can ‘chat’ later
20 Apr 2012, 21:55 pm
I dunno WTF possesses them to use schalk as a ballcarrier – that is not what he should be doing -schalk should actually go to another province, stormers pack too much talent – schalk still got alot left I reckon and might even put some fire in some other teams. Dmfk disloyal poeslike koos doos.
20 Apr 2012, 21:55 pm
@carol(carol)-471:
She likes both.
20 Apr 2012, 21:56 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-475:
Heavens Skop, I have seen him topless???
Heart stopping (except the Tasmin tattoo)!!
20 Apr 2012, 21:57 pm
HM will change SA rugby forever….well at least until another loser takes charge and info his work.
The alue of the structures he will put in place will only be realized in a few years time.
What I cannot understand is how you among others simply can’t accept that he is the coach and allow him to do the job. No one, and I mean no one, knows the players as well as he does.
20 Apr 2012, 21:58 pm
@carol(carol)-474:
Yeah, like nearly crashing into Percy’s front gate in Camps Bay trying to see whether he is around instead of concentrating on the road ahead of you.
20 Apr 2012, 21:59 pm
Robzim
Do you rate Juan Smith? Or did you rate Os?
20 Apr 2012, 22:01 pm
@ Skoppy i see you are again covering yourself in glory,i never swaw the game so i cannot comment on the game but well done your team won,but there is one thing i will agree with you on the stormers are a better team without schalk burger.
20 Apr 2012, 22:03 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-475:
Tell her Skoppy.
The most manly thing Percy has ever done is to take up surfing.
he will Hever be the next jonothan paarman but he can at least handle the gentle waves at muizenberg, you have to give him credit for that.
20 Apr 2012, 22:03 pm
Yessus what we talking now conditioner, Percivals pecs and donkeys timotei?
20 Apr 2012, 22:03 pm
@cab(cab)-477: you and your fck’d up ‘loyalty” is EXACTLY what fckd PdV out the WC and fck’d his chances.. by being LOYAL to idiots who could not produce when it counted..
Let the other franchises have Burger.. see exactly where he ‘fits’ in with them.. see if he makes the grade as center stage ball carrying f’ng hero at Sharks or Bulls or Cheetahs or Lions for that matter…
Loyalty ?? pffft go get a dog.. if that’s wtf you looking for
the sad fact is that AC is so fck’d in the head with this same ‘loyalty’ to Burger because of his so called invincibility and hero status ability as a leader and a do or die captain courageous… same as Rassie was fck’d in the head by such insanity.. that he will re instate Burger as captain and drop JdV and Vermeulen in the pecking order… and in so doing will fck up Stormers chances in this competition EXACTLY as happened both in 2010 and 2011…
20 Apr 2012, 22:06 pm
Stormers need burger back asap !! Alstead not the player he use to be.making to many enforced errors
20 Apr 2012, 22:08 pm
@Narutokun(Narutokun)-487: Elstadt is doing a good job. Burger can play off the bench in the second half.
20 Apr 2012, 22:08 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-482:
At his best Juan was world class.
Nearly as good as Andre Venter.
I never liked Os- he pissed me off the day he “quitted’ against the AB’s
He was a good all rounder – quite athletic- but he never really dominated in the scrums against top class opposition.
20 Apr 2012, 22:09 pm
@carol(carol)-479: I nearly said too much on here regarding Tasmin till I quickly realized Percy is part of the Keo clan so I better shut up about the rest of what I was gonna say…
But Tasmin is one goddess of a woman … and like I said.. I better not say any more than that.
20 Apr 2012, 22:09 pm
Vermeulen is no captain for crying out loud! He is 4th in line currently for Stormers. He captains one game against an injury ridden Reds team and now he is a captain? He ran out first and bumbled his way through 5 sentences. Did no captaincy.
20 Apr 2012, 22:11 pm
U a dmfk disloyal twatfaced *** running burger down the whole time – everyone knows the situation at province with respect to the talent edging burger out – WTF it’s you that’s coached then 6 straight wins – they are currently being coached by a coach I’ve said us **** and a jw disciple and all the structures were pit in place by another coach u been running down – Erasmus.
U dmfk ignoramus would still be phaying piefdastyle brokeback rugby were it not for these coaches u constantly decrying – u honestly think they dunno that it’s going to be hard to acvomadate scalk?
20 Apr 2012, 22:13 pm
Burger nowhere NEAR to Elstadt in terms of grunt and enforcer hard nosed hard arse… Burger like a baby puppy next to Elstadt.. Stormers need Elstadt FAR more than they need Burger.. by a billion miles…
The White Boks was built on 2 players.. and they were NOT Burger and Smit.. they were Juan Smith and Bakkies Botha.. they were the fulcrum heart of the Boks center core… neither Burger or Smit were must haves for Boks to be successful in preceding years,., but Botha and Smith were…
20 Apr 2012, 22:13 pm
Robzim
What I actually meant was this:
Juan is 30 odd and hasn’t played a minute in more than a year. Yet most will include him in their Bok team today if it is announced he is fit again. Yet Matfield is out for 7 months and it is unthinkable for him to play again?
Os retired and returned to win his second WC.
20 Apr 2012, 22:14 pm
@cab(cab)-492: get fck’d c’ntarse you dunno fckall about loyalty you dumbfck moronic little arsecreep hero worshiping twat…
20 Apr 2012, 22:15 pm
Useless spellchecker on this phone
20 Apr 2012, 22:15 pm
@cab(cab)-485:
Sorry, I lowered the tone for a while!
20 Apr 2012, 22:16 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-494: neither Smith nor Matfield should go NEAR a Bok team today.. same as FdP they are dead and buried has been’s.. just like Burger… the entire rigmarole collective of them…
20 Apr 2012, 22:18 pm
U as thick as a brick and fkd in the head.
20 Apr 2012, 22:18 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-494: Juan is on a rehabilitation programmes. Matfield retired and his condition – partly due to diet and partly to do with the exercise regime he currently follows – is not suitable to take to the field. The two cannot be compared.
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