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, 16:23 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-395:
just focus on the sharks – chiefs at 5:00pm tomorrow cos we need them to do us a favour.
and the bulls – crumbies at 9:00pm cos that when we go tops.
the rest is just noise….
20 Apr 2012, 16:26 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-395:
ja,slow on the uptake.
am also outta here, cheers all and good luck for tomorrow.
.
.
thats for you cane 
) if its better for our teams.
oh and… may the the hurricanes and crusaders draw… or a win for canes (vomit in mouth
20 Apr 2012, 16:31 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-372:
behave Omar.
remember your alter ego.
20 Apr 2012, 16:35 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-403: I see you are on the move on the table…….
20 Apr 2012, 16:37 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-404:
Now that’s a thought I don’t need
Him moving on the table
20 Apr 2012, 16:39 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-405: Superbru
20 Apr 2012, 16:40 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-404:
movin on up……………..
with apologies to M People.
@Dawn(Dawn)-405:
be nice otherwise I will come and lay your table.
20 Apr 2012, 16:41 pm
I know man
What happened to your sense of humour
20 Apr 2012, 16:47 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-408: I’ve been on hold with telkom since 16h03. Sense of humour = long gone.
20 Apr 2012, 16:53 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-409:
that’s over four centuries.
you should complain.
20 Apr 2012, 16:55 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-409:
20 Apr 2012, 17:01 pm
Just got cut off.
I swear I could kill someone.
Specifically “nom-someone or other” from the call centre.
20 Apr 2012, 17:03 pm
Off to go and throw some tin around.
See ya’ll later.
Much later
20 Apr 2012, 17:04 pm
@stormersboy(stormersboy)-412:
holihah.
no wonder they want to be nationalised again.
classic example of a government business.
20 Apr 2012, 17:38 pm
Well done Stormers. World class defense. Solon brilliant. My 1st choice at 11 for Boks.
Hougaard
JP
JdJ
Steyn
Aplon
Steyn
FdP
20 Apr 2012, 17:40 pm
Solon??? = Aplon
20 Apr 2012, 17:55 pm
I have had my cry! What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger!
Going to watch the highlights now.
20 Apr 2012, 17:57 pm
@the artist formerly known as gunther(gunther)-403:
Shell we or shell we not…That is the question. How you buddy…
20 Apr 2012, 18:03 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-415: Hougaard at fullback?
20 Apr 2012, 18:06 pm
@Bagel(Bagel)-419:
Yeah Strange Indeed…
20 Apr 2012, 18:46 pm
Vermuelen is the Stormers most consistent player. Deserves a Bok call up. The English will not like his hard nosed approach in the first 60.
20 Apr 2012, 18:48 pm
Another win for the boys and it was never really in doubt. The only problem is they should have won by a lot more. The Stormers never make their trys look easy like other teams do. At some stage, they are going to have to put teams away in the manner of the Bulls, as horrible as it is to say that, its true and if it doesn’t happen…. it wont happen!
20 Apr 2012, 18:49 pm
Reds never looked like winning it
20 Apr 2012, 18:52 pm
@HongKongSlong(HongKongSlong)-422: Agreed. They’ve developed a winning culture with a deadly defence. Now they need to start running wild.
20 Apr 2012, 19:10 pm
Van den Heever has disappointed. Maybe it is due to Pieterson going solo too often. That combo needs work – then we will thrive.
20 Apr 2012, 19:38 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-324:
“….and oh Carol”
I am not use to being an afterthought!!
20 Apr 2012, 19:40 pm
From a Bull supporter, Stormer supporters, don’t worry about another missed bonus point. You won and that is imoortant, your team are looking fantastic, but should probably score more tries. Only 3 possible banana peels left, Bulls at Loftus, Sharks away , and Cheetahs if Stormers have a bad game and Cheetahs a blinder. Stormers will finish first and Bulls possibly 2nd. Which translates to 4th and possible home play off match (4 against 5). Crucial though to be at least 4 points ahead of Bulls before Loftus match end of May. Stormers may clinch the log there, or move down to 2nd. Chiefs will lose against Saders, and hopefuuly against Sharks tomorrow. Stormers don’t play Chiefs.
20 Apr 2012, 20:13 pm
So didn’t I tell you that the Duvenhage – Grant axis was as good as they come.. better than Hougaard – Steyn any day of any week.. also better than McLeod – Lambie any day of any year… and that Duvenhage should be Bok 2IC No. 9 no questions about it.. and rant been fck’d over by Bok management since Smit shafted him for his bumchum sharkievarkie sidekick Butchie boy in 2008…
Now its too late.. better youngsters in the wings.. Goosen is the way ahead.
Also Joe P. good enough for Bok 15, and JdJ the MAN for the Boks at 12 or at 13.. NO question asked.. WAY better than Olivier, and Steyn and JPP and the rest.
AND
Duanne Vermeulen the best No.8 in the country by a thousand miles and more…. better than Alberts, better than Strauss, better than Spies .. best in the west and best in any test…
Not to mention a FAR better choice for Stormers captain than Schalkie the Hulkie any day of ANY week…
Didn’t the Stormers fck ‘history’ one shot in the eye today.. didn’t they JUST.. in front of a baying house full of the Red tide the Stormers stood vas and didn’t budge and though Reds chucked the kitchen sink Stormers came out BAAS in the Brisbane Cauldron where Crusaders got bust in last years final showdown
Stormers WITHOUT
JdV, Bekker, Burger (thank the good Lord above) … twice now Burger has faced Reds as captain and capitulated.. Burger goes AWOL and waddaya know we smack them silly in their own back yard WITHOUT a Burgermeister in SIGHT.. Vermeulen is the MAN that Burger can only dream about…
20 Apr 2012, 20:27 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-13: Lahdi fucken dah .. you were proved WRONG .. ONE MORE TIME … AGAIN …
where that other little dumbfck fakface woodenpoefta sharkievarkie spoonfool of spittle with his farken history ledger.. little red devil arse creep same like You-hoo-hoo.
20 Apr 2012, 20:32 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-429:
Vermeulen is like Alberts with a brain!
20 Apr 2012, 20:34 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-428:
Yip, Vermeulen is the best no 8 in this country for sure- Got more all round skillsand rugby sense than the one dimentional slow legged Alberts, while show ponie Spies has proved many times that he goes awol when the going gets tough.
Re Burger…… AC is on record that the aim is to have Burger back in the team for the home match against the Cheetahs on 12 May. According to him Burger needs no warm up matches, he is the type of player who can walk straight back in the team.
So i guess that is how it will be- probably Kolisi, Burger and Vermeulen or Burger, Elstadt and Vermeulen- but you can bet your house on it that Burger will be back as flanker and captain.
20 Apr 2012, 20:39 pm
Kolisi 10,000 times the player that Burger could currently hope to be…
If Meyer don’t recognize Kolisi ahead of his blue eyed backscratching babies then he’s an utter dunce deluxe….
with Kolisi, Coetsee, Alberts, Vermeulen and Elsadt in the No.7 frame
NO place for Burger,, and Spies should take a distant possible impact off bench position…
20 Apr 2012, 20:41 pm
If Burger comes back and takes center stage f’ng ball carrying dunce deluxe genius in the mid field and takes captaincy away from Vermeulen or JdV we are FUCKED with a CAPITAL F… mark my words…
20 Apr 2012, 20:43 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-431:
Your boys managed a win….!
20 Apr 2012, 20:45 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-433:
Hi Skop
JDV should remain captain….He has gravitas (and he is hot)!!
20 Apr 2012, 20:51 pm
@carol(carol)-434:
Yip, they are on a roll- nothing flash about them but they are the real deal- i just hope your boys do NOT get a bonus point win tomorrow agaist the Brumbies and overtake them on top of the log. But they probably will.
20 Apr 2012, 20:52 pm
@ Bagel
Yes at 15 .
20 Apr 2012, 20:57 pm
ashampoopaloo
Hehe. No such thing!
20 Apr 2012, 20:58 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-436:
If the Bulls do not beat the Brumbies tomorrow I may…….well lets not go there!
They have to beat them.
What am I missing in Cape Town and what is this about ‘chumming’ sharks……it sounds a bit pervy!
20 Apr 2012, 21:01 pm
Your team wins and all the sudden they are all the best.
You rely on emotion and not brains. Dangerous.
20 Apr 2012, 21:01 pm
@carol(carol)-439: Bulls will whip the Brumbies tomorrow by at least 15 points. Bulls will play a high paced high intensity game at altitiude and the Brumbies wont know what hit them, Bonus point victory for the Bulls. Tell me is Stegman back for them?
20 Apr 2012, 21:02 pm
@ashampoopaloo(joel1yahoo)-433:
I agree that Burger will disrupt the present balance of the side, but to blame him for acting as a first receiver is unfair. I doubt whether he just decides to position himself there. It’s an obvious part of ACs strategy, which is why I’m impressed in Meyers attempt to find out what role each player has been given for his franchise before making a judgement on the players ability.
20 Apr 2012, 21:03 pm
@carol(carol)-435:
JdV is a MAN .. JdV is a CAPTAIN.. JdV got Gravitas.. JdV got BALLS.. JdV got BRAINS.. JdV got quite confidence and leadership skills.. JdV got suave charisma with refs and with players..
In Short JdV is a thousand times the player.. the man.. the captain that Burger could possibly ever hope to be .. or anyone else in SA for now in the captaincy race.. with Vermeulen being next best on the list..
AND if you were a chick looking for a catch JdV is 1,000,000 times the catch that Percy could possibly try and compete with in the ‘hot male’ arena…
20 Apr 2012, 21:08 pm
Last year JdV was done, one trick pony, injury prone, and useless. Now he is Super Storm!
Lmga
20 Apr 2012, 21:09 pm
@David(David)-442:
Burger has disrupted the teams cohesion and balance for a LONG time under all your hero worshiping noses.. Burger is a disruptive influence without any doubt.. he does NOT bring balance or cohesion or creativity into this team.. in contrast he brings the reverse….
AC was not the architect of Burger to midfield ball carry general .. Rassie was.. and Rassie instilled this insanity into both Stormers and Boks game strategy which BACKFIRED like a f’ng cannon with a stopped up turret in the WC.. to the extent where we almost lost vs Wales and Samoa.. and we DID lose to Australia in the 1/4.. with Burger and FdP being the two most prolific contributors to that loss without a goddamn second DOUBT..
20 Apr 2012, 21:10 pm
@carol(carol)-439:
Do not bring this issue up here as skoppy is around and he is more dangerous than any lurking great white can ever be
He is a nice bloke though.
Chumming is to lure sharks by throwing a mixture of fish partsand blood in the water and as sharks have a very keen sense of smel they will be around in a flash most of the times.
20 Apr 2012, 21:11 pm
Hougaard
JP
JdJ
Steyn
Aplon
Steyn
Du Preez(C)
Beast
Bismark
Coenie
Etzebeth
Kruger
Brussow
Burger
Spies
Chiliboy
Greyling
Bekker
Alberts
Goosen
Lambie
Habana
20 Apr 2012, 21:13 pm
@Kleuter(Kleuter)-444:
Keep laughing gatskop .. we skopped your gat once under JdV this year already.. we do it again.. just wait and see.. If burger is cappy next time we play you.. then its open card proximity where anything can happen and usually does with burger fckng up the works…as proven in big game showdowns ENDLESSLY..
JdV is the most viable candidate for Bok captaincy by a LONG shot.. WAY better than Spies the awol papbroek rear guard chicken who leads a team by following from the goddamn rear…
even your wide awake Bulls supporters who know a lot about rugby agree with me…
read this clear rugby kenners remarks on JdV at least some Bulls supporters know something about rugby not just blue eyed dumb fck inadequacy.. @Bullstakenoprisoners(Bullstakenoprisoners)-427:
20 Apr 2012, 21:15 pm
Burger burger burger!
gdam that boys good.
20 Apr 2012, 21:15 pm
Or
Hougaard
Aplon
JP
Steyn
Habana
Steyn
FdP
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