Gutsy Canes give Stormers a sniff
13 Jul 2012
JON CARDINELLI reports that a thrilling 28-25 victory for the Hurricanes in Wellington has left the door open for the Stormers to top the Super Rugby league.
A controversial try awarded four minutes into injury time allowed the Hurricanes to snatch a late win and keep their own play-off prospects alive in the process. This result is a bad one for the Bulls, Sharks and Reds, who are all chasing a qualifying spot, but it is a very favourable one for the Stormers.
The Cape side simply need to beat the Rebels in Cape Town on Saturday to win the league and secure a home semi-final. This would result in the Stormers’ first ever top-of-the-table finish, and put them into a position to play a possible final at Newlands.
The Chiefs certainly blew an opportunity in Friday’s encounter at the Cake Tin. It was clear that a bonus-point win was what they were after, as five log points would have secured top spot.
A simple win would also have given them a chance to finish in pole position. The Stormers haven’t scored a bonus-point win this season, but if the Chiefs had won narrowly in Wellington, the Cape side would need to win big in their own final league match. Perhaps the Chiefs should have secured the win before being so ambitious.
But special mention must go to the Hurricanes for their role in a result that has turned the tournament on its head. They were once again inconsistent in this crunch match, and flyhalf Beauden Barrett missed four kicks at goal. To be fair, they were the better side on the day, and as the final call indicated, the 50/50 calls also went their way.
There was minimal kicking in this contest as both teams went in search of a bonus-point win. The Chiefs started well, but then battled to live with Hurricanes at the breakdown. Indeed they were fortunate to be ahead in the final minutes, and if they had won they would have pointed to a crucial score right before half-time as well as Aaron Cruden’s intercept try in the 58th minute as game-winning plays.
But in defeat, it can be said that the eight points the Chiefs banked right before half-time were scored when Hurricanes prop Ben May was off the park. The tighthead was sin-binned for a reckless tackle on Sonny Bill Williams, and the Chiefs made the Hurricanes pay to the tune of eight points.
The intercept try allowed the Chiefs to take the lead at a crucial stage of the game, and credit must go to Cruden for reading the play and latching on to the pass by Barrett. It was a seven-pointer against the run of play, but it highlighted the Chiefs’ threat from the turnover.
Aside from his goal-kicking and that unfortunate pass, Barrett had an absolute blinder at flyhalf. His decision making was excellent and the Chiefs’ defence was guilty of giving him too much room to run and create opportunities for team-mates running a supporting line.
For the Chiefs, Williams was superb, breaking tackles and delivering some inspired offloads. But unfortunately for the visitors, Williams failed to link up with his team-mates after making many a break, and as a result the Chiefs failed to finish some great attacking surges.
The Hurricanes are a young side, but they showed terrific character as the clock wound down. The Chiefs should have put them away during this period, but poor ball security at the breakdown and some woeful tactical kicking allowed the hosts to take control.
It was all the Chiefs could do to hang on, conceding penalty after penalty at the breakdown. The Hurricanes eventually got over the line with the clock on 84 minutes, Dane Coles showing some incredible strength to finish.
Referee Jonathan Kaplan referred the decision to the TMO as the 25 000 screaming fans anticipated a fairytale finish for their Hurricanes team. Tawera-Kerr Barlow looked to have pulled off a heroic tackle on Coles, although it seemed inconclusive whether Kerr-Barlow had got his arm under the ball or if Coles had indeed got the ball down on to the tryline.
The TMO decided it was the latter, and that decision has had some far reaching ramifications. It’s now likely that the Stormers will beat the Rebels on Saturday and top the league, but the Sharks and Bulls will need to win big in their respective clashes to guarantee a spot in the play-offs.
For the Hurricanes, they have kept their hopes alive with an outstanding win over the Chiefs, and no doubt they will be cheering the Sharks and Bulls’ opponents on Saturday.
897 Comments
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13 Jul 2012, 16:21 pm
Next generation signs on at Province
With the Under-19 and Under-21 provincial competitions kicking-off this weekend, Western Province have announced a raft of new signings at Under-21 level.
And at the heart of these signings is a core group of players that helped the South African Under-20 team to glory at last month’s 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.
Junior World champions, prop Ollie Kebble and backs Dillyn Leyds, Kobus van Wyk, Pat Howard and Tshotsho Mbovane, have all committed their futures to Western Province Rugby.
Kebble (Prop) and Leyds (Flyhalf) will travel to Johannesburg with the DHL WP U21 team this weekend, for their season-opener against the Lions Under-21s on Saturday.
Western Province Rugby (Pty) Ltd MD Rob Wagner commented: “What people tend to forget is that established Super Rugby players like Steven Kitshoff, Frans Malherbe, Eben Etzebeth and Siya Kolisi are all still Under-21 this season.
“That’s why it was so important to also sign the next generation in the shape of Ollie, Dillyn, Kobus, Pat and Tshotsho.
“We have faith that these players have the ability to join their counterparts at senior level in the not to distant future and we look forward to seeing them grow in the years to come.”
13 Jul 2012, 16:23 pm
skeppie
94 to 99
hg
at a stage after 12 in the old bar a couple of us would emulate “the p enis puppeteers”
if woman did not smaak the show they just left
i mastered
windsurfer
new born tortelduif chick
sesame saad bo op n burger bun.
13 Jul 2012, 16:23 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-694: When you frat boys have finished sucking each other off, i will have you know that I did play quite a bit of rugby and for clubs that actually won more than just local derbies every now and then, but hey you probably wo’nt believe me so fark off anyway.
13 Jul 2012, 16:25 pm
@Sharks fans are genuine Bok supporters(Predawn)-696: Yes and with your sister’s
13 Jul 2012, 16:26 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-703: What club?
13 Jul 2012, 16:28 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-693: Many, many years ago as an U21 laaitie, I had my first taste of Opens at Quins… Played an U21 game and for some reason I can’t remember, was reserving for the 1sts… Farken fool falls down in the first 5 mins and on I went… Got my first serious PK that game…
13 Jul 2012, 16:29 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-702: “sesame saad bo op n burger bun”…. Hellsteeth
13 Jul 2012, 16:30 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-703: And now for your real wetdream?
13 Jul 2012, 16:30 pm
hg that fool prop fell down cause he could not handle the pk aswell as you.
13 Jul 2012, 16:32 pm
@707
tortelduif is cool
looks like a newborn dove in his furry little nest:-)
13 Jul 2012, 16:33 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-706: It should not be your last.
Nice chatting to you wankers……gotta go
13 Jul 2012, 16:35 pm
@711
so who did you play for?
13 Jul 2012, 16:36 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-709: Prop…? Fark that, I liked to think of myself as a frustrated Centre… or even Full Back… No 8 was a favourite too but they had other uses for me…
Other bad PKs issued to me in my formative days were against Police and DHSOBs funny enough… Dirtyfcks
13 Jul 2012, 16:38 pm
police,there was dirty fcks for sure
if you played centre you must have played against spanner at quins,he is a legend.small but feck he could tackle
13 Jul 2012, 16:39 pm
@TooMuchRugby(TooMuchRugby)-711: And never will be… Banshee gave me one just last week… Was deserved however.
13 Jul 2012, 16:42 pm
@Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19(Fern)-714: A frustrated centre… Not necessarily one…
Fernus, as Danger was saying – there some dillyfcknuts on here… When we meet sometime proper then I tell you…
Anyway, outtahere for now… Enjoy your weekend
13 Jul 2012, 16:46 pm
@716
mail me
bluffblitz@gmail.com
13 Jul 2012, 16:53 pm
Ja mail him and take this kuk offline
13 Jul 2012, 16:54 pm
@Heavens Game(Heavens Game)-713:
I played for Durban Police on occasion. Beating City Police was a high point as we barely practised.
13 Jul 2012, 16:55 pm
The corksucking continues. Gives new meaning to the term “banana boys”! You pansies played rugby? LOFL!
13 Jul 2012, 17:12 pm
I prefer to make my own patties, but decided to buy the Woolies ones today
So homemade hamburgers it will be with only the freshest ingred
13 Jul 2012, 17:15 pm
@Pee Wee(Pee Wee)-720:
13 Jul 2012, 17:20 pm
Doesn’t matter where in the world you play the pigs, they’re always a dirty paranoid bunch and they make sure they get their retaliation in first! The dirtiest cnuts on the planet!!!!
13 Jul 2012, 17:38 pm
bonus on email you can send each other pictures.
13 Jul 2012, 17:38 pm
kots
13 Jul 2012, 17:48 pm
STOOOOOOORMERS!!!!! Everyone else = MOURNERS.
13 Jul 2012, 18:13 pm
Shooter!
13 Jul 2012, 18:16 pm
Chunder du Fernly
13 Jul 2012, 19:30 pm
Bonus points count for nothing if you winning.
13 Jul 2012, 19:34 pm
@Wezwp(Wezwp)-729:
It seems to have worked out that way
13 Jul 2012, 19:35 pm
This was a good result.
It means if the Sharks finish in 6th place and they beat the Brumbies, they will have the easier semi final up against the Stormers.
Lots on incentive now for the Sharks to moer the Cheetahs and the Brumbies.
13 Jul 2012, 19:36 pm
Rebels can still throw a big greasy spanner in those works though.
13 Jul 2012, 19:57 pm
Kaplan fckd over the Chiefs for some or other reason perhaps he wanted a Stormers home final, he thought when Cruden got te intercept his task was impossible but then he kept giving Canes another chance to claw it back and at the death offered them an extra 4 minutes and a few continuity penalties in the red zone with a try that wasn’t a try handed down by the TMO…
Now sharkshitvarkies reckon Xmas came early cos they only gotta take care of lowly Brumbies and lowly Stormers to proceed to a pisseasy final in NZ
It might be the one and only time I ever root for Jake the Fake’s team.
13 Jul 2012, 20:11 pm
If we get the #sharks then i’ll be fairly confident for the #stormers progression to the final.
13 Jul 2012, 20:15 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-733:
Far fethcing, no credible argument
Kaplan is known for extending matches if leading teams are trying to waste time illegaly, are you already on the tzingale?
The Storms will not win against top teams under neutral referees at home, they haven’t done it once last two seasons as I recall
13 Jul 2012, 20:24 pm
@fitz1ella(fitz1ella)-733:
I am afraid that if the stormers end first they might not be so lucky to get the winner of sharks/brumbies (most likely brumbies) in semi’s but will have to play the winner of saders /bulls and that will obviously be the saders.
13 Jul 2012, 20:25 pm
The two Stompie fans above seem to have developed problems with their recent memories.
They are forgetting the snotklap.
Sharks will be licking their lips if they get the Stormers, trust me. Men vs boys a few weeks back…
13 Jul 2012, 20:27 pm
Crusaders in Cape Town (home game for them) and it is good night nurse.
Game over Rover.
Slaap sag.
There were two of those snotklaps last year.
13 Jul 2012, 20:27 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-735:
The one flaw in your argument is Craig joubert, unless you rate him as neutral. He is the true nemesis of the Stormers, just check the records.
13 Jul 2012, 20:28 pm
> Canes give Stormers a sniff
Of what?
13 Jul 2012, 20:29 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-737:
The Stormers won 3 out of the last 4 against the Sharks- we pray that we get them in the semi.
13 Jul 2012, 20:29 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-736: And there are no easy games in the playoffs. IF the Bulls play Crusaders and win they will carry a lot of confidence into a game against the Stormers and is the Saders win it will be equally tough. I reckon that ending top will be the toughest route for the Stormers.
13 Jul 2012, 20:31 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-741: Same argument used by stormers concerning last game, we weren’t at full strength.
13 Jul 2012, 20:32 pm
RobbieZee
The Stompie players wont be thinking back to last year or Feb, but they will have painful fresh memories of their rectal examination just a few weeks ago.
13 Jul 2012, 20:36 pm
@bananaboy(bananaboy)-742:
You are right, ending tops might be the hardest route.
The only team I fear (as a Stormer supporter) is the Saders.
13 Jul 2012, 20:40 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-744:
Winning percentages of SA teams since the “conference” system started last year.
Stormers- 81%
Bulls- 61%
Sharks- 61%
Cheetahs- 32%
Lions- 19%
The gap is huge. There is no doubt who the best team is.
13 Jul 2012, 20:49 pm
RobbieZee
Your team has a lot of catching up to do.
They’re the Johnny-come-latelies of the South African Super teams.
And then there was one year they didn’t even qualify….
13 Jul 2012, 20:51 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-739:
Just a standard deviation
I have no explanation for it
13 Jul 2012, 20:58 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-731:
Sharks still have to beat the Cheetahs with a bonus point to advance, I reckon. Fortunately for them, they’ll know exactly what they need to do when they play tomorrow afternoon.
A few stumbling blocks in their way still.
IF… the Reds win by a bonus point tomorrow morning, they’ll go ahead of the Sharks and the Bulls because they’ve won more matches. It will be a two horse race between the Sharks and the Bulls for the 6th position in the afternoon then.
The Bulls have a much better points differential then the Sharks at this stage. 27 points in the positive to be exact. So all they need to do is win against the Lions in the last game if the Sharks don’t score a bonus point and they’ll end up in 6th.
If the Blues surprise and play the Brumbies off the park tomorrow (I think they will), The Sharks may well end up in 7th position
What do you reckon your chances are of scoring a four try victory against the Cheetahs.
The log may well look like this at the end after tomorrows games.
1. Stormers
2. Chiefs
3. Reds (provided they win with a BP and the Brumbies lose without getting a BP)
4. Crusaders
5. Brumbies / Bulls (depending on points difference and the Bulls getting a bonus point or not)
6. Brumbies / Bulls (see above)
7. Sharks
8. Hurricanes
At least you have your own destiny in your hand. Win with a bonus point and you can pretend to run with the big dogs. If not, I guess you boys will take your wives shopping next week.
13 Jul 2012, 20:58 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-747:
fark, i love those percentages.
A winning rate of 81% over 2 years in this highly competitive professional era is unheard of, Jonny come latelies or te not.
It beats me how some people still doubt the genius (in SA terms) of Alister Coetzee.
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