Sloppy Stormers deny Cheetahs
12 May 2012
JON CARDINELLI watched the Stormers win 16-14 at Newlands by virtue of a commanding first-half performance.
The Stormers second-half effort was nothing short of shambolic. After leading 16-0 after 40 minutes, after physically dominating the Cheetahs to an overwhelming degree, they conspired to concede the advantage and very nearly the result.
The platform was there for the four-try bonus point they had been searching for all season. Their lineout was functioning beautifully, as was their rolling maul.
Their physicality at the collisions and scrums was putting the Cheetahs on the back foot, and flyhalf Peter Grant was knocking penalties over from all angles.
The confidence with ball-in-hand was apparent, as Jean de Villiers turned down a kickable penalty in the 23rd minute and instructed Joe Pietersen to boot the ball to touch. The Stormers then powered though the phases with Eben Etzebeth bursting through from close range for the game’s first try.
But instead of capitalising on a commanding lead, the Stormers allowed the Cheetahs to fight their way back. Literally.
The visitors produced a more physical effort in the second stanza, and managed to niggle and unsettle the Stormers forwards. While it was the Cheetahs who were guilty of poor discipline in the first 40, the Stormers were the sloppier of the two teams in the second.
Hennie Daniller crashed over in the left-hand corner after 48 minutes, and a difficult conversion by reserve flyhalf Riaan Smit brought the score to 16-7.
Starting No 10 Sias Ebersohn had struggled in the first half, and Smit seemed to play with more confidence and lend the visitors more direction in the later stages of the game.
The game was stopped in the 54th minute when both teams were involved in a full-scale brawl. Referee Steve Walsh put the entire incident on a white card, and also sent Stormers flank Rynhardt Elstadt to the bin for his role in the scuffle.
But now it was the Cheetahs’ turn to waste a great opportunity. They turned down a shot at goal, and then conceded possession several phases later. It was here that the Stormers’ characteristic defence came into play and denied the Cheetahs what could have been a game-changing score.
Willie le Roux snatched an intercept try in the 67th minute, and another fantastic conversion by Smit reduced the deficit to two points. It set up a dramatic final 13 minutes, and it was here that the Stormers struggled to escape from their own half, a range of poor tactical kicks allowing the Cheetahs to send wave after wave after attack into Stormers territory.
Fortunately for the hosts, the Cheetahs panicked with ball in hand, forcing the pass or taking the wrong option and eventually conceding possession.
The Stormers finally managed to get some territory, and while they battled to control the ball, they remained in the opposition half for the last five minutes of the game.
It will go down as another win for the Stormers, but they will know that they blew a golden opportunity to bank the four-try bonus.
The manner in which they smashed the Cheetahs up front in the first half and bossed territory and possession was encouraging. If they had maintained their concentration for the entire second stanza, they would have racked up four tries quite comfortably.
Because of their inconsistency, they will remain in second place in the South African conference and fourth on the overall log for another week yet.
255 Comments
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12 May 2012, 21:10 pm
Lucky Stormers, but we’ll take the 4. These vuilgat cheetahs are gonna stun other teams, who do they play next?
12 May 2012, 21:11 pm
hey wow hey
skweeky burm time
as they say in caype town
8)
12 May 2012, 21:11 pm
@Slappes(Slappes)-101:
Sharks in Bloem on Saturday
12 May 2012, 21:12 pm
Well I will take the win but not a great performance.
Need to score more tries at home but credit to Cheetahs
12 May 2012, 21:13 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-104:
Howzit Coach. Yeah as long as we keep on winning…the bonus points may just be important as the competition goes on.
12 May 2012, 21:13 pm
Kuk game
12 May 2012, 21:15 pm
Well it will be interesting which Stormers backrow will be picked againt the Sharks ( I will pick Alberts, Deysel and Coetzee) with Kolisi and some no names playing. After that train smash they will be heading to Loftus where the Bulls may be without some of their loose forwards.
12 May 2012, 21:15 pm
Jebb Sinclair way off the pace. Shows the gulf between the north and the south.
12 May 2012, 21:16 pm
@Horings(Horings)-107:
Yeah injuries taking its toll for all teams now… Sharks are not out of it.
12 May 2012, 21:16 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-105:
Howzit Bill
Yeah it could mean the difference where we play in the playoff rounds
12 May 2012, 21:17 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-106: Never its the stormers never a kuk game
12 May 2012, 21:17 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-110:
This was the one game I was very worried about. The Sharks in Durbs is the next one that is going to be really hard… Can’t slip up against the Tahs next week either…
12 May 2012, 21:18 pm
@Slappes(Slappes)-101: Vuilgat Cheetahs? Elstadt, Etzebeth and Liebenberg is die vuilgatte! Elstadt having
Andries Strauss in a head lock in the first half and then doing a neck break manouvre, then he got a knee in the back of Jacobs and he was definitely not innocent in the fight.
12 May 2012, 21:19 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-112:
No but i think Tahs are cooked and done long travel should be a easy Stormer win
12 May 2012, 21:20 pm
Coach someone should tell them to play for 80 mins not 20.
12 May 2012, 21:21 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-114:
Sjoe I hope you are right. Our boys should really be feeling the pains this week, escpecially having to play with 14 men and defend the way they did.
12 May 2012, 21:22 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-115:
For sure Dawn. It is becoming a habit.
12 May 2012, 21:22 pm
Well to be honest those Cheetahs really surprised me here!!
What fired them up?
12 May 2012, 21:22 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-115:
You know its a long season and sometimes the intensity drops, they have had a lot of injuries and changes in pack and its eventually effects a team
i am proud that they still defended well against a very determined Cheetahs
12 May 2012, 21:23 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-114:
Hiya Coach, has spring sprung with you yet?
Your Stormers have a win though….!
12 May 2012, 21:23 pm
There is no easy win for stormers. They look like it’s such an effort
12 May 2012, 21:24 pm
@carol(carol)-120:
hello beautiful
Yes its sprung long time ago getting warm here Nice day to day
Yes a lucky win but a win
12 May 2012, 21:26 pm
Stupid bloody stormers
12 May 2012, 21:27 pm
@Dawn(Dawn)-121:
Team dynamics are interesting at this point in the season, do the boys hit the town and have a beer together, a bit of back slapping and a bit of a laugh or do they all just pack their kit bags and slink off home?
12 May 2012, 21:27 pm
The Cheetahs really gave the Stormers a work out tonight, sorry Cheetahs would loved to see you win this one, just keep Ebersohn away from the no.10 yersey
12 May 2012, 21:28 pm
I’ll take the 4 points.
Really hope that Nizaam’s injury isn’t too bad.
4 years ago we would have tanked that game.
That’s really all I have to say about it.
12 May 2012, 21:29 pm
Sias Ebersohn should be permanently benched…
12 May 2012, 21:29 pm
I still maintain that AC is a k@k coach. Nienaber the real hero. AC has always been k@k. Quota of note.
12 May 2012, 21:30 pm
Good wake-up call for the Stormers coming off a bye
Next week will be better
12 May 2012, 21:30 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-122:
I am flipping astonished at the 2 point margin. Pathetic really….were they sitting on their arses a bit? I mean, 2 point win playing at home in Newland versus the Cheetahs!
Spring in the air again here today……In Britain hottest March on record followed by the coldest wettest April….. Holding thumbs as you lot say for May!!
12 May 2012, 21:31 pm
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-127:
His confidence was down from the word go. That one kick that he missed in front of the poles has played with his confidence…
12 May 2012, 21:31 pm
@daydreamer(daydreamer)-127:
Nah, he is still a good player needs to get his confidence back
I hope he does soon
12 May 2012, 21:32 pm
soon as Cheetahs took off their liability Sias Ebersohn they immediately looked dangerous. They should ditch Sias as a lost cause with Smit and Le Roux alternating between wing and fly half they got one hell of a lot more momentum going. Ebersohn’s confidence is shot to ribbons I doubt he ever becomes a force at this level again.
The Le Roux intercept try was a 14 point swing around, if the Duvenhage pass had found Aplon was likely a try at other end, but second half belonged to Cheetahs, Smit and Le Roux both showing class at pivot beyond their experience.
12 May 2012, 21:32 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-129:
Hey Robster! Yeah it was for sure. That final whistle couldn’t sound fast enough. It showed ten seconds left on the clock and then the kick out to touch. I though oh no a lineout and a possible penalty… Far too close for comfort.
12 May 2012, 21:32 pm
@carol(carol)-130: I thought you were a Bulls meisie? Why so bothered by the Stormers winning margin???
12 May 2012, 21:33 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-128:
His team lost only one match this year.
Please explain why do you say he is so kak?
12 May 2012, 21:33 pm
@carol(carol)-130:
I just think Cheetahs came to play in 2nd half and credit to them
Stormers defended well just one of those games with the momentum change.
12 May 2012, 21:34 pm
The mercenaries came close to losing to the Cheetahs today, very close.
12 May 2012, 21:35 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-138:
Your team is going to need all the luck next week mate. It is going to be tough in Bloem…
12 May 2012, 21:35 pm
Ol Brok spent half the game on one knee.
Not sure if he was praying or waiting to be knighted like McCheat.
Well done brokebacks.
Full value for second spot on the log.
12 May 2012, 21:36 pm
129 @ Robzim
We’ll put it down to the bye they had lol
If they do it next week there’s no excuses
12 May 2012, 21:37 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-134:
It was by the skin of their teeth, fark, my nerves are shot.
Not many loose forwards left, the Canadian was a bit off pace but taking into consideration he came here from Canada via England during the week it was perhaps to be expected.
We should beat the Tahs next week though, and then the 2 away games against the Sharks and Bulls will probably define our season.
12 May 2012, 21:39 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-142:
Two huge games mate! Yes the two games that will determine where we end on the log… Nerves were finished mate.
12 May 2012, 21:39 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-142:
yeah he played ok considering
He made his tackles and carried the ball well protected it and was ok at 8 which is not his position
12 May 2012, 21:39 pm
Elstadt probably get a citation then we fckd if he gets a suspension all our loosies are klaar, Kolisi is last man standing, then it Kolisi battling it out solo, probably have to play Fourie at open side and Kolisi at 8 unless Elstadt is suspended then we got a big problem coming up.
12 May 2012, 21:42 pm
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-145:
That tackle was not necessary…
12 May 2012, 21:42 pm
@skopskiet(skopskiet)-145:
Fenton-Wells???
12 May 2012, 21:44 pm
Carol they should slink off with their tails between their legs.
12 May 2012, 21:44 pm
@CoachPete(CoachPete)-144:
He will probably have to start at no 8 next week.
The next in line 8 is Fenton Jones of the Vodacom side who is actually a short arsed fetcher in the Brussow mould.
If Elstadt ios to be suspended we are in real trouble.
Dont be surprised if you receive a call from Alister early next week.
12 May 2012, 21:46 pm
@Bill Reyts(Gumboots)-146: to me it did not look as bad as Kaplan made it out to be I think yellow was enough
But not a smart thing to do
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