Stunning Stormers stop Bulls

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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  • 151.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:43 pm

    Lineouts !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Fuckadilly

  • 152.theOracle: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:43 pm

    Fourie should never be mentioned as a bok hooker… most inaccurate thrower in the S15…

  • 153.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:44 pm

    perfectly waited kick from scrumhalf

  • 154.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:44 pm

    The 1 dimensional game-plan our teams specialize in is truly mind-numbing when it isn’t complemented by our traditional physicality and intensity. If the Boks are gonna play like this (which they are) I still believe they can be effective long as they focus on basic handling skills, patience and accuracy. When guys like Goosen get phased in when can start evolving.

  • 155.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:44 pm

    Awaiting moderation? My comment? Why?

  • 156.Nils: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:45 pm

    And to think those depleted Stormers still are within a whisker to a win at Loftus.

  • 157.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:45 pm

    @Robzim(Robzim)-147:

    Thanks Rob, but he ows me a comment or two. I’ll take it :-)

  • 158.cab: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:45 pm

    Yoh deon fourie is good

  • 159.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    @theOracle(theOracle)-150:

    His nickname is spraygun.
    Even that is a compliment for him.

  • 160.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    @CoachPete(CoachPete)-134:
    Siya Kolisi a class apart.

  • 161.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    no duvenhage try times

  • 162.viewer: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    Te Ranga
    At this moment I envy YOUR teams’s skill levels. Don’t know what to call this type of rugby

    Habana!

  • 163.theOracle: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    Kolisi playing great rugger…

  • 164.Nils: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    How ironic, the exBullie delivers a killer blow.

  • 165.Johannes Expatinus: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    logging in from austin, tx

    come stormers!

  • 166.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    Fresh legs, tired Bulls and HABANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

  • 167.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    should I say this again
    Kolisi on bench for boks?

  • 168.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:46 pm

    Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • 169.AssassinWP: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:47 pm

    YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HABANeRO

  • 170.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:47 pm

    kaplan letting bulls get away with at least 3 penalties in the build up to that try

  • 171.cab: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:47 pm

    Kolisi brilliant – gotta be picked for bok squad – he is v goid

  • 172.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:47 pm

    How the hell was Siya not in that final Bok training camp????????? Honestly……..boggles my mind.

  • 173.RL: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:47 pm

    Hondo will love this

    Min 71

    Kolisi to Habana
    Try

  • 174.Nils: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:47 pm

    Now go Stormers, show you’re real deal.

  • 175.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:48 pm

    @cab(cab)-170: Meyer doesn’t want him. But he better start wanting him.

  • 176.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:49 pm

    @RL(RL)-172: Is that the racist twat who comments here? He will be weeping into his Vierkleur.

  • 177.theOracle: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:49 pm

    Hugh “they’ve got to have some variations the bulls” that after watching “the play” from Steyn/Olivier…

  • 178.ossewa: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:50 pm

    Bulls dont deserve this one little bit…

  • 179.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:50 pm

    siya kolisi!!!!

  • 180.Wolf: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:50 pm

    First time I saw Bjorn Basson was when he missed Kolisi on Habana’s try…seriously mate…you need to do a “touch” more!

    And Spies…what the heck do you actually do?

  • 181.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:51 pm

    siya shouldnt be pushed in the bok team too early.He needs to grow
    marcel coetzee should sit on the bench :)

  • 182.Pee Wee: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:51 pm

    That farked up Bulls TMO try could be the difference

  • 183.garth: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:51 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-173: He prefers Stander. HM makes some dumb decisions.

  • 184.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:52 pm

    Sigh. Back to defend.

  • 185.Johannes Expatinus: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:52 pm

    spies alweer gevries

  • 186.SpiesIsWorthless: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:53 pm

    Oliver for the Boks.

  • 187.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:53 pm

    brilliant performance by the stormers

    and i did tell tec dont be too confident

  • 188.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:53 pm

    HG said timotei should be a Bok? Wtf

  • 189.garth: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:53 pm

    good pass from moffie

  • 190.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:53 pm

    I could not be prouder, win-lose or draw from here. Stormers benchwarmers – take a massive bow.

  • 191.viewer: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:54 pm

    Heyneke will punish a couple of stormer hopefuls for this indiscretion at fortress Loftus :-)

  • 192.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:54 pm

    @garth(garth)-182: When one thinks that this entire Bulls team is in the Bok ‘squad’ – it is obvious that Meyer has made more than ONE dumb decision thus far.

  • 193.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:55 pm

    Well hats off to the Stormers, Noone can argue with that kind of commitment

  • 194.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:55 pm

    @Transformation(Transformation)-187: HG also said ‘POP’ last week………..We know how that turned out.

  • 195.ossewa: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:55 pm

    If SA has anyhope of winning this comp then WP has to win this. This Bulls team needs it tough for a couple seasons because they aint playing together…

  • 196.theOracle: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:55 pm

    After seeing the package for Habana, I must say he is a must for the Boks…

  • 197.saru1983: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm

    we have a maul se moer hahahha

  • 198.CoachPete: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm

    WELL DONE STORMERS

  • 199.Mr Black: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm

    Excellent win Stormers

  • 200.Neil: Reply to this comment
    2 Jun 2012, 20:56 pm

    When unimaginative rugby is played it is the easiest thing on earth to defend against that.

    Problem comes when they play the Aussies and Kiwis with their brainy players the losses arrive.

    Both teams play dull, dour rugby.

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