Stunning Stormers stop Bulls
2 Jun 2012
RYAN VREDE reports on a breathtaking spectacle in which an impossibly brilliant defensive effort saw the Stormers beat the Bulls 19-15.
This had it all. Abrasive phase play? Numerous examples. Brutal collisions? There were plenty. Foul-mouthed exhortations to achieve a level of performance that transcends the expected? Check. An underdog that refused to accept that billing. You bet ya. This was a derby of epic proportions, one befitting a match of this importance. And ultimately the Stormers took Loftus off the back of one of the great defensive performances.
When viewed in the context of their dire situation with injuries to key players, the importance of the result, the opposition, the venue, and having a man yellow carded, the Stormers’ performance was among the best and bravest they have produced in the history of Super Rugby.
The Bulls dominated possession and territory and that they scored just one try is a credit to the Stormers’ defensive structure and the accuracy of their execution within that structure. The Bulls needed to play with a high tempo to seriously trouble them, but their ability to do so was stifled by uncompromising hits at the gainline and a rabid breakdown contest.
However, the Cape side’s attack struggled and undermined their cause yet again. Credit to the Bulls, who themselves produced a tackle fight of appreciable strength and accuracy. The Stormers shelved their renowned kicking game in favour of ball-in-hand attack but their surges were often forced to go lateral as a pink wall advanced at them with pace and cohesion. Often the Stormers played well behind the advantage line and seldom threatened. There was a throwback moment from Bryan Habana in the 20th minute where the winger broke and made 40m. But that moment was birthed from a broken field situation. Their general play lacked innovation and precision, while the scrums were little more than adequate and lineouts an absolute shambles. But when it mattered they delivered, Habana, once a beloved son of Loftus, downing his former team-mates.
Morne Steyn and Peter Grant traded penalties before the Bulls crossed the whitewash, controversially so, as it appeared that Pierre Spies had grounded the ball on Deon Carstens’ boot. Steyn missed the conversion but banked three points shortly thereafter. Grant landed a penalty of his own just before the break to leave his side trialling 11-9.
Defence dominated threafter, and with neither side able to get go-forward and the lines able to fan out, the attacking play was laboured and largely impotent.
Stormers prop Frans Malherbe complicated an already arduous task when he got himself sin-binned for a tip-tackle with a quarter of the game to play. But the Stormers redoubled their efforts and scored the only points in Malherbe’s absence, Grant sinking a penalty to make it a two-point game.
Then the play that changed the game. The Stormers seemed to be venturing down another attacking dead-end when Quin Roux threw a speculative pass wide to Siya Kolisi. But JJ Engelbrecht was hesitant in closing the flanker down, allowing him to cut through a hole and pick Habana out with the most perfectly timed pass. It topped a masterclass from Kolisi. At only 20, his future is very, very bright.
The Bulls launched an almighty late assault but the Stormers held all the cards. It was the Stormers’ primary strength against a desperate and disjointed Bulls attack. They never looked like folding.
What a match.
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399 Comments
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2 Jun 2012, 20:11 pm
Ag Nelly.
This game was always gonna be tight.
We so sorry.
2 Jun 2012, 20:12 pm
BROK is in the HOUSE!!!!
Bulls may as well just give up now….
2 Jun 2012, 20:12 pm
Truck and trailor. Sheesh
2 Jun 2012, 20:13 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-103:
Again Give Kaplan the rule book
2 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
And brok gives them a penalty
2 Jun 2012, 20:14 pm
Spies having a good game
2 Jun 2012, 20:15 pm
RobbieZ
ain’t that the truth – dunno about 1st world in this city – gdam feral wildcats – lekker – but ja maybe too old for this **** – sunny sa probably got everyone bbq ing with footsies up.
Lions looking good – getting players back from injury.
2 Jun 2012, 20:15 pm
Stormers fast asleep second half
2 Jun 2012, 20:18 pm
@97 Skills, ingenuity, a lack of inhibition, changing tactics during a game, athleticism. Why not
2 Jun 2012, 20:18 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-106:
A decent game HM will be happy
2 Jun 2012, 20:19 pm
Cos that not how we roll
2 Jun 2012, 20:20 pm
Kolisi having a massive game.
2 Jun 2012, 20:21 pm
2 Jun 2012, 20:22 pm
jeb sinclair is a bigger fairy than pierre spies
2 Jun 2012, 20:23 pm
Estebeth seems to have re injured his shoulder?
2 Jun 2012, 20:24 pm
Can’t understand this coaching staff – bring fourie and schreuder on asap
2 Jun 2012, 20:27 pm
@viewer(viewer)-100:
What about the SBW try and those superb grubbers and lots, lots, lots more.
2 Jun 2012, 20:27 pm
What a shite game.
2 Jun 2012, 20:28 pm
Put some fire in the belly Stormers! STOOOOOOOORMEEEEEEEEEEERS!!!!!!
2 Jun 2012, 20:29 pm
No creativity, poor intensity, cringeworthy music ever time play pauses (often). After seeing the Chiefs/Blues game earlier today this makes some really grim viewing.
2 Jun 2012, 20:30 pm
Stormer lineout in pieces…
2 Jun 2012, 20:31 pm
Oooooo
2 Jun 2012, 20:32 pm
Yellow for Malherbe – that’s the game there – Stormers look flat
2 Jun 2012, 20:33 pm
The Fat lady starting 2 clear her throat!!!!
2 Jun 2012, 20:33 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-121:
If we only had a class player like Koster to ignite these slow carthorses.
It would have been easy peasy all the way to a home semi.
2 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
Yellow
LOL kaplan kakked him out good: “You can’t argue. I’m just giving you the courtesy of an explanation”
2 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
6 points not taken by bulls. Strange!
2 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
It is all over now baby blue.
2 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
Pulling out weeds in the dark and cold is more rewarding than this ruugby without even the basic skills plus its inadequate adjudication.
How is this for he-man rugby; “white 7 pulling the …. player by the hair”.
Does the term moffie come to mind?
2 Jun 2012, 20:34 pm
Just stop them from getting 4 tries Stormers – that’s all. Would like to play these ‘moral Hillsong Hillbillies’ again at full strength though….
2 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
These games are so close, cause there is no try scoring ability in either side.
2 Jun 2012, 20:36 pm
Bulls are playying typical bokke rugby…60% possession & fokkol tries
2 Jun 2012, 20:37 pm
17 min left duvenhages fault
2 Jun 2012, 20:37 pm
Kolisi on bok bench?
2 Jun 2012, 20:37 pm
Who is that brokeback poeftah with the pink scrumcap?
2 Jun 2012, 20:37 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-130:
A bonus for our second stringers will be like a win specially now that the sharks have lost.
2 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
Stormers look like a Vodacom Cup team with their subs on
2 Jun 2012, 20:38 pm
Extraball you doing some gardening?
2 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
Fourie might as well throw the lineouts straight to the Bulls team!!Useless Hooker
2 Jun 2012, 20:39 pm
Neil
etcetera etcetera
Canes went for the 4th try with the game already sown up; ‘Saders have two back to back 50+ scores
2 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
@Mr Black(Mr Black)-106: howzit loser guppy.
2 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
Spies is useless as a player and a captain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
Aplon tough little player!!
2 Jun 2012, 20:40 pm
new scrumhalf points immediately
2 Jun 2012, 20:41 pm
RL hou jou bek
All bulls are in pink for cancer
You obviously have never had anyone affected by it
2 Jun 2012, 20:41 pm
new scrummie backs are running
2 Jun 2012, 20:42 pm
@RL(RL)-141:
Mr black is one of the few good ones.
save your energy for HG and Puma, lol.
2 Jun 2012, 20:42 pm
@RL(RL)-141:
Howzit red *****
2 Jun 2012, 20:43 pm
Just imagine if the Stormers had a functioning lineout.
2 Jun 2012, 20:43 pm
When last have the Stormers won a lineout of their own? C’moooooooooooooooooon boys!!!
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