Stormers end tour on high
28 Apr 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Stormers down the Force 17-3 in a weather-afflicted game on Saturday.
The result sees the Stormers finishing their four-match Australasian tour with three wins and a total of 13 log points. They will travel back to Cape Town knowing that next week’s bye will give some of their injured players time to recover, and that they have consolidated their position at the top of the South African conference.
It was always going to be that kind of game where the result mattered more than the performance. The Cape side went into this clash without Schalk Burger, Jean de Villiers, Gio Aplon, Duane Vermeulen, Nick Koster and Eben Etzebeth. Several players were forced to play out of position as a result, and that was always going to impact on their rhythm as a collective.
Then the heavens opened in Perth, and what was already meant to be a scrap quickly escalated into a complete clanger. Players on both sides lost their footing on attack and defence. Hookers struggled to feed the ball straight at the lineout. Ball control was nigh on impossible, the wet pill popping out of many a ball-carrier’s hands and even sliding out of an attacking breakdown.
It was because of these conditions that neither side was able to play with much structure. That said, the Stormers weren’t at their abrasive best in the first half, and were turned over far too often at the breakdown. They missed the physicality of Vermeulen and Etzebeth, and as a forward unit they looked a team at the end of taxing tour.
It took a piece of individual brilliance to swing the momentum in their favour. 2012 has seen Bryan Habana enjoying his best season in a Stormers shirt, and on this occasion he showed the vision to intercept a flat Force pass and race 70m to score. Considering the battle to control the wet ball, 7-3 turned out to be a commanding lead.
A mistake by the Force right after the break allowed Peter Grant to extend the visitors’ lead to 10-3. It was during this period that the Stormers started to impose themselves a bit more at the point of contact, and it was from a breakdown turnover that their second try was created.
For the first time in the game, the Stormers were able to take the ball through the phases, and a quick pass from Dewaldt Duvenage found Grant for the try. At 17-3, the Stormers had struck a telling blow.
The Force attempted to narrow the deficit but were undone by typically determined Stormers defence. The visitors also succeeded in putting more pressure on the Force with the high ball in the second half, and it was through this tactic that they enjoyed more territory.
For the final 20 minutes of a four-week tour to Australasia, it was a special effort. It was here that the Stormers clattered into the Force’s ball-carriers, refusing to allow the hosts a consolatory bonus point.
The weather played it’s part and they may have lacked that characteristic clout in the first stanza, but they finished this game well.
269 Comments
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28 Apr 2012, 16:54 pm
Well done Stormers. Can’t believe these youngsters are standing up with loads of senior players out injured.
28 Apr 2012, 16:55 pm
@David(David)-249: When was that?
28 Apr 2012, 17:03 pm
@stormer in a teacup(stormer in a teacup)-252:
I can’t remember the year, but I seem to remember it was when Luke was captain. It was one of the Stormers coaches who mentioned that Vermeulens best chance of a Bok cap was at 7 rather than 8, as cover for Juan.
28 Apr 2012, 17:08 pm
R. I. P Fred Allen. Legend of the game. NZ have lost two giants of the game recently. Condolences to family and friends.
28 Apr 2012, 17:10 pm
@David(David)-253: He does play a
Juan kind of game.
28 Apr 2012, 17:16 pm
There’s a lot of words on this thread.
28 Apr 2012, 18:21 pm
congrats to the stormers ona good win , even though Habanas try was not one they braved out a good victory
28 Apr 2012, 19:57 pm
Well done stormers Played the conditions correct especially 2nd half
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-257:
Ja but even if he dropped it its kinda hard to say it should not be a try.
it was always going to be 100 % a try
28 Apr 2012, 21:10 pm
Just need Burger to return to make this team complete.
28 Apr 2012, 22:05 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-258: not so, if the ref did his job and asked for the Tv ref to officiate it would have been dissalowed, the fact that he did not does not mean its a legal try , the fact that it should have been a easy try does not mean the ref’s wrong call was not wrong,
sorry boet just because its your team does not justify it, a very senior Stormer player ate at my place today, and he himself admitted it was a defineing moment
Yes it should not have been a try, but then again you also get those same wrong calls against you in a season, the bounce of the ball…
28 Apr 2012, 22:08 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-258: and it was not even if he did drop it?? he DID, should have been called a knock on, Am i sad the Stormers won because it helped them?? NO, unlike most Stormer supporters in here who support the saders or anything other then sharks or bulls? ” AND YES ITS A FACT” , I dont support foreign teams against fellow SA teams
28 Apr 2012, 22:17 pm
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-261: well said boet. Funny when the Sharks lose there is a whole chorus crew of Stormer women on here gloating as if the Sharks losing is more important than their own Stormers winning…(they’re not used to Super Rugby success, see?)
Sad but true.
29 Apr 2012, 00:54 am
Fabulous to see the young guns get stuck in. There is an obvious spirit in the team. Off to the beach.
29 Apr 2012, 02:00 am
@sharks_lover(sharks_lover)-261: Stop being such a sour pu ssy!It’s not our fault that you support such a kuk team.
29 Apr 2012, 02:03 am
Great victory Stormers and great tour!!Now,it’s over to you Bulls.See if you can improve on that.
29 Apr 2012, 02:50 am
Hee hee aint it funny seeing the Sharks supporters calling a “defining” moment in a game when they benefited from a dubious call against the Blues – which was very much more defining in the context of things than the Stormers comfortable victory today. Shame.
29 Apr 2012, 02:57 am
@ Wooden Spoon – 262
As if the Sharks are used to success in Super 15? Isn’t the Stormers SA’s most successful touring team? Also as your nic suggests your team has propped up the rear on a couple of occasions haven’t they lofl!
29 Apr 2012, 03:29 am
@CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-164: it was one game on kiwi soil in 09
Bloemfontain, Durbin and then Hamilton..
29 Apr 2012, 08:26 am
Nizim Carr should replace Elstadt- Elstadt not the same this year as last year. What a game for the young Carr. Could there ever be a worse wing than Van der Heever? Bulls you can have him back for free! He hangs around – lets other players make the tackles- and never commits to anything- loses the ball in the tackle in wet or dry conditions- absolutely c r a p. When is Gio back? That JP kid (20 year old) needs time on the wing as does Poolman. For the rest- the team is solid. BIG question: where will Schalk play when back? You cannot drop Vermeulen- the guy is on fire. Kolisi deserves his place- so I guess it will be 7 for Burger and (hopefully) Carr off the bench. Maybe Carr and Elstadt on the bench to cover loose forward and lock. JDJ is playing well at 12- keep JDV away. Oh- so many options…
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