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
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 » Show All
20 Apr 2012, 14:21 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-181: And here I thought that the aim of rugby is to score more points than the other team. Think we need to go back in time and give old Billy a slap when he came up with the idea of kicking penalties and conversions….
20 Apr 2012, 14:21 pm
Pop goes the weasel…!
20 Apr 2012, 14:21 pm
Some people here always blame the ref when they lose, something I will never stoop to. Go check all my posts and see if I have ever blamed anyone by the players themselves…
Says so much about the culprit moaning about the poor quality of the Stormers team when it is not even his team. BUT when his team loses it is the ref… Shame but true… Sad sad sad…
20 Apr 2012, 14:21 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-181: So help me if i don’t understand correctly….according to your version of ‘Rugby’…that only tries count on the scoreboard if we discard all the penalties and conversions…the Stormers still would’ve won 2 – 1?
So what is your point exactly? By how many tries should the Stormers have won for you to accept that they beat the Reds at a game of ‘Rugby’ ?
20 Apr 2012, 14:22 pm
@the peanut gallery(peanut)-129: hahaha
20 Apr 2012, 14:23 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-191: Eish… what about those tries against column hey?? Sharks seem to be getting given up the p00p more than actually giving it too
20 Apr 2012, 14:23 pm
Well played Stormers..
Would have been good to get the bonus point… but they deliberately took their feet off the gas once they were ahead and then just did enough to stay ahead… to conserve energy for the rest next weekend of a strong of really tough, physical matches…
Well done… Very proud of the guys…!
20 Apr 2012, 14:23 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-195: Okes think its great when refs and the laws reward negative play… When you don’t have to score tries to win games… When the attacking/try scoring side does not get benefit of the doubt.
Its a fckup and the Breezers are not only fcking up the talent in their backline but at the vanguard of messing up rugby totally….
20 Apr 2012, 14:25 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-191: Ok, lets look at Tries.
How about you go and find a stat that shows the Stormers vs Sharks this year, Tries for vs Tries against??
I can’t be arsed to look too hard myself but this week is Stormers 2 – 1.
I’m pretty sure we will be in comfortable positive territory, and there will be a good chance that your statistic will be negative.
So ja, one of the most entertaining parts of watching rugby is watching tries, but that doesn’t tell the whole story now does it???
20 Apr 2012, 14:25 pm
@IceMan612(IceMan612)-204: So true so true!!
We outscored the Crusaders but got the harsh end of Mr Pollock… so we lost a game
Getting 4 tries in a game is exactly what the point imply.. a bonus…
20 Apr 2012, 14:25 pm
Now we blame the refs and laws again. I thought rugby was about playing to the laws and to the refs interpretation. Wrong again…
20 Apr 2012, 14:26 pm
@ufo(ufo)-207:
lol, they deliberatly took the foot of the gas??
Now UFO, are you sure you believe that my friend?
20 Apr 2012, 14:26 pm
@IceMan612(IceMan612)-204: I’m inclined to agree with HG on this. Lack of try bonus points could mean the difference between a home semi or not. At worst, it could mean the difference between making the playoffs or not. The stormers, as has been said a few times on this site seem to play not to lose. Surely with the score being 17-3 at half time, you would’ve pushed for a try early after half time, to maximize the time to get the 4th try, while also putting a score distance between themselves and the reds.
20 Apr 2012, 14:27 pm
Tomorrow if the Sharks lose, and I really hope I’m wrong, then the ref will be lamblasted or the culprit will be nowhere to be seen…
20 Apr 2012, 14:28 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-195:
Good post Pompies2.
Even the fattiest love a run with the ball in hand.
8)
20 Apr 2012, 14:28 pm
@ufo(ufo)-207:
sheesh…. that was nonsense…
but they deliberately took their feet off the gas once they were ahead and then just did enough to stay ahead… to conserve energy for the force match next weekend after a string of really tough, physical matches…
and after the force we have a buy… to recharge the batteries…
20 Apr 2012, 14:28 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-208: Hey HG…. you got me all excited about htis scoring tries thing that I suddenly realised that would mean that we won the 2010 title!!! Yeaaayyyy!!!!!! Remember???? that game where the stormers scored 2 trties to 1 of the bulls in Orlando??
20 Apr 2012, 14:28 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-209: You seem to be avoiding the whole crux… Disguise it as much as you like, labia lawyerly type, how many tries have the Stormers scored this season… Not points, ref dependent… Tries, team dependent….
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Stormers are in the bottom 3 teams of the S15 for tries scored…
A disgrace for rugby actually….
20 Apr 2012, 14:28 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-213:
Then again losing by less than seven only gives 1 bonus point. I would rather get the four for a win first than be happy with one for four tries and one for less than seven. Goes both ways…
20 Apr 2012, 14:29 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-211:
Exactly Bill.
I will be watching your posts carefully during the championship cup
20 Apr 2012, 14:30 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-212:
i actually do…
it’s a long season and it’s about pacing yourselves…
AC has said many times it’s about getting the win… once that was looking probable there was a definite ease-up….
20 Apr 2012, 14:30 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-211:
You should post more often Billy.
Far more often.
20 Apr 2012, 14:31 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-220:
I have NEVER blamed the ref mate. Go back and check and watch me like a hawk…
20 Apr 2012, 14:31 pm
of huge concern to me was eben’s arm/shoulder…
he held it very lam when he came off and it was in a sling after the match…
20 Apr 2012, 14:31 pm
@cane(cane)-222:
20 Apr 2012, 14:32 pm
@ufo(ufo)-224:
20 Apr 2012, 14:32 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-219: That’s why i mentioned gunning for a try soon after half time. They should then have weighed up risk vs. reward. Is the risk of getting a 4th try worth the reward if the reds get a losing bonus point. I’m sure you’ll answer in the affirmative.
20 Apr 2012, 14:33 pm
@Provvas(Provvas)-217: Maybe… Which would make it a deserved win… Then again Sharks have outscored the opposing team try wise in a Super final more than once… many times.
20 Apr 2012, 14:34 pm
@ufo(ufo)-224:
maybe he’s resting it…took the foot off its gas… conserving its energy for next week..?..
20 Apr 2012, 14:35 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-213: I think we all know the bonus of bonus points and it could make a huge difference….
But say we apply this rule of rahter winning games and not scoring bonus points:
Should the Stormers beat the bulls twice even with the bulls getting bonus points in those games.. they wold have gained 6 – 8 points difference in this specific scenario over the bulls… should both team keep on winning and only the bulls score bonus points… they will need 6 – 8 games to catch up to the deficit….. It seems a bit too much to ask in my opinion…
20 Apr 2012, 14:35 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-226:
yeah bill…
walked off holding it very still by his side… and had showered and changed by the end of the game with his right arm in a sling…
20 Apr 2012, 14:35 pm
@pompies2(pompies2)-227:
Of course we all want the four try bonus points mate. It is a bonus and yes it can make the difference in the end. A lot of the teams bonus points are for losing by less than seven. Ask the Sharks supporters – they have a few
20 Apr 2012, 14:35 pm
@cane(cane)-222:
ja, because some bloggers here find the truth a little hard to stomach.
20 Apr 2012, 14:36 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-218: Ok let’s see how much you like this little stat… Tries per game:
Stormers 3 – Hurricanes 2
Stormers 0 – Sharks 0
Stormers 2 – Blues 2
Stormers 2 – Lions 1
Stormers 1 – Bulls 2
Stormers 2 – Highlanders 0
Stormers 2 – Crusaders 1
Stormers 2 – Reds 1
So the Stormers have only been outscored by tries once this year.
20 Apr 2012, 14:36 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-232:
So Bekker and Eben crocked! Not good. Listen the last game on tour is always the most difficult to win and the Force are not the walkover at home that most think…
20 Apr 2012, 14:36 pm
@ufo(ufo)-221:
Well UFO, bonus points can make a difference.
If they do enough to win most games without bonus points, they may find themselves playing Saders in Christchurch in quarter final.
I on the other hand am going to give the Reds credit for stopping the Stormers getting there bonus points.
It is a long season but you have to hammer all teams. Make them scared of you.
They will remember a hiding, that will be in the back of the oppositions minds.
Better that above than to have the reds thinking now that they can win the next game. Only 10 points in it last time.
20 Apr 2012, 14:38 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-229:
i reckon so…
what would be the point of playing flat out.. injuring a couple of more players… and then losing to the force…?
look… i’m only speculating of course… but i believe that being able to pitch up and take the force we had to ensure there’s something left in the tank…. and then have a by to recover at home…
20 Apr 2012, 14:38 pm
@Heavens Game”
……………………….have outscored the opposing team try wise in a Super final more than once… many times.”
How many exactly, constitutes “many times”
1 or 2………………………………………….?
20 Apr 2012, 14:39 pm
@ufo(ufo)-231:
ja ok, i hope its not serious.
20 Apr 2012, 14:39 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-233:
Yep, and some bloggers just lie and lie so much that their world is all messed up.
20 Apr 2012, 14:39 pm
@Provvas(Provvas)-210: lucky tries !
20 Apr 2012, 14:40 pm
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-233:
Sies Whitney… Hoesit…
20 Apr 2012, 14:41 pm
hurricanes vs crusaders….hmmmmm
who do i want to see win it less..
maybe a draw would be nice…..
20 Apr 2012, 14:42 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-218:
What satisfaction do you get by continuing like this?
Fact is the Stormers won- like they have done for most of the last 3 seasons – you know damn well at the end of the day it is all that counts.
The Boks won the WC final against England in 2007 without scoring a try- did you also say at that time that it was not rugby and a disgrace or did you celebrate the win like the rest of us?
20 Apr 2012, 14:42 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-218: The stormers have scored 14 tries in 8 games and conceded 9.. so still outscoring the opposition
The sharks have scored 21 and conceded 19…… almost 50/50 there…
The problem for the stormers is not scoring tries.. it is scoring 4 tries in a game!!
I will say it again.. do I prefer my team playing ruinning rugby like the cheetahs and hover around 10th position or do I like the way they play now and be no 1 on the log??
Hell no 1 looks good!!
20 Apr 2012, 14:42 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-218: I actually enjoy your little infantile rants. I think you are more obsessed with the Stormers than with the Sharks. Honestly dude you comment more on Stormers threads than on those regarding your team. Really amusing.
Ref depentant … team dependant…classic
I think you should be more concerned with the amount of games the banana boys have one than with the number of tries the Stormers have scored.
20 Apr 2012, 14:43 pm
@Provvas(Provvas)-230: At no stage should you compromise the result to get a bonus point. I didn’t say you should.
So assuming the Bulls win all the way through and the stormers have a hiccup or two, those wins over the Bulls become irrelevant. The point of getting a bonus point, specifically against a weaker side, is so that it either further enhances your position on the log or tries to claw back a deficit or to build up a buffer for when an off day comes and even on the off day, you should still try for the log points on offer.
20 Apr 2012, 14:43 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-236:
yeah bud…
but i think they’d rather take 4 points against the reds and 4 maybe 5 next weekend too… knowing they rest after that…
rather that than bust a few more players to get 5 this weekend and then not get any next weekend…
look obviously i would like to see the tries and bonus points too… but hell man… they ARE top of log (until the bulls and chiefs have their games anyway) and have been playing well…
a win’s a win as we always say… and i’m not gonna jump on the hater’s bandwagon and look for reasons to criticize…
i only need one reason to celebrate…
we won…
20 Apr 2012, 14:44 pm
I don’t know whether it has been updated since today’s games or not, but according to sarugby.net, the total number of tries scored in this year’s Super Rugby for the two teams is:
Stormers 13
Sharks 21
http://www.sarugby.net/tryscorers.aspx?categoryid=sarugby/super14&leagueid=1041&fullview=true
(Had to go through a five-page list of names here and add them up!)
20 Apr 2012, 14:44 pm
@kfc(kfc)-246: one = won
Pages: « 1 2 3 4 [5] 6 7 8 9 10 11 … 14 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.