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, 21:05 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-747:
So, when last did your team reach a final or a semi final for that matter?
13 Jul 2012, 21:06 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-748:
We are beginning to win him over though. Slowly but surely- the same that we did to Marius Jonker and Tappe Henning (many years ago) The worst SA referee in the modern era was Willie Roos.Luckily the mob in Kimberley took care of him before he could inflict more damage.
13 Jul 2012, 21:07 pm
@nama1(nama1)-751: 2008, and we have been in many more than your team, the Johnny-come-latelies.
13 Jul 2012, 21:09 pm
@nama1(nama1)-749: fortunately for your team they don’t need to get the bonus point after all tomorrow. No chance of that happening. You owe the Hurris.
13 Jul 2012, 21:10 pm
Seriasly I will lag if the “mighty” Stormers lose to the Rebels tomorrow.
The Rebels beat the “lowly” Crusaders, you boys better watch out!
13 Jul 2012, 21:11 pm
@nama1(nama1)-749:
“Win with a bonus point and you can pretend to run with the big dogs”
13 Jul 2012, 21:13 pm
Lol a Stompie preaching about bonus points! Getthefuckoutoftown!
13 Jul 2012, 21:13 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-755:
You sound seriously bitter.
13 Jul 2012, 21:13 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-740:
This is Mark Keohane’s website, remember?
Everybody can get a sniff.
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-747:
When was that? 1996?
How far are we allowed to go back? To the times when your team were not good enough to play in the A-section of the CC?
Just asking.
13 Jul 2012, 21:19 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-753:
We were in the final in 2010.
We were in the semi final in 2011.
We’re going to be in the semi final (at least) in 2012.
Now, weren’t you the guy who just a couple of posts ago reminded us that we should not go too far back in history? Remember?
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-754:
“fortunately for your team they don’t need to get the bonus point”
Nothing “fortunate” about that, big boy. Our team WON their matches to be in that position. What did your team do? Lost against the Lions?
13 Jul 2012, 21:20 pm
RobZ is quite correct, Stormers definitely been SA best team last couple of years, 81% virtually unheard of, i just hope injuries arent the undoing of them, but they;ve got a good side on the park for the rebels – any more going down and they got problems tho since loosies alreadt stretched, you aint gonna win playoff matches with greenhorns. Ideally they wanted a fit Vermeulen back for Saders or Chiefs. Buts it also a real conundrum if thats his first match back and not match-sharp. Be v interesting to see how D Fourie goes at 8 this weekend. Stormers better not coast either, rebels are packed full of topclass mercenary talent, the best money can buy.
13 Jul 2012, 21:21 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-757:
Stormers to top the log tomorrow without scoring bonus points = The revenge of Alister Coetzee.
He will then have earned the right to show a ‘toffee’ to all the doubters, haters and critics.
But he won’t do it because he is the biggest gentleman in SA rugby.
13 Jul 2012, 21:22 pm
@nama1(nama1)-760: “We’re going to be in the semi final (at least) in 2012.”
Yooooooooooooooooh!
You are aware that the Brumbies can still finish higher than the Stormers?
And then you will cry about bonus points.
It seems to me you are taking a win against the Rebels for granted?
An arrogant Stormer fan. Well I’ll be damned!
13 Jul 2012, 21:24 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-752:
It that so? was Roos eliminated by the bad guys?
Jonker and Tappa Henning are the worst in my book on both counts: intgrity and profeciency, I remember in 1994 how Henning single handed won a match for Tvl vs WP at Ellis Park last 10 minutes, allowing penalty after another for Gavin Johnson to kick over
13 Jul 2012, 21:26 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-764:
yes fantastic display by tappa, what a legend.
13 Jul 2012, 21:29 pm
@cab(cab)-761:
Ja, the rebels are sort of typical no nonsense aussie- they just go for it and give it a moerse shot, no “respect’ for big names etc..
I know you rate D Fourie – its indeed going to be interesting to see what he can do at no 8- thank god he dont have to throw into the lineouts, lol.
The latest news here is that Schalk Burger has surpassed vermeulen in the race to be fit for the play- offs. According to the local press he might just start as number 8 in 2 weeks time- i know that will give skopskiet a minor heart attack but I can live with that , lol.
13 Jul 2012, 21:33 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-739: “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.”
Just out of curiosity someone has to make comprehensive stats about the leading referees and how they fare with certain franchises/Test teams. There are some notable examples, like Bulls never ever losing with Jonker or Waratahs losing almost 90% of their games with Kaplan.
It should be an interesting reading confirming (or dispelling) popular notions about referees X favouring (or ditching) teams Y.
13 Jul 2012, 21:33 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-766:
ja vermeulen was in outstanding form, but schalk will be v useful to rely on rather than rookies for playoffs, however match sharpness could be a real problem – it might just be that fourie has a barnstorming game tomoro in which case im not so sure you;d want either vermeulen or schalk starting if its there very first match back against the likes of a sharpened crusaders outfit.
but as u say first things first, rebels might be close, especially if stormers just try to grind out a win, they must drill them from word go, wrap it up by halftime – then bring on young guns if want.
13 Jul 2012, 21:34 pm
Prospect of meeting the Chiefs, Saders, Reds, Hurricanes and the Sharks at Newlands under a neutral referees must be scary for some?
13 Jul 2012, 21:35 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-763:
Says the man who believes that his team has a better chance playing the Stormers in the semi final while they’re not even sure of a place in the play-offs yet.
You are a joke sometimes Woody.
Yes, I have all the trust in my team to beat the Rebels. How many games have they won AWAY from home in the two years of existence? You really believe they will beat Stoermers at Newlands? Not impossible, I grant you that, but really, who did YOU nominate on bru.
Not arrogant when I say it, just realistic. Like being realistic when I say your team will beat the Cheetahs tomorrow but the question is this: Will they beat them with a bonus point.
That is what should worry you … not whether Stormers will beat the Rebels.
@Hondo(Hondo)-764:
“I remember in 1994 how Henning single handed won a match for Tvl vs WP at Ellis Park last 10 minutes, allowing penalty after another for Gavin Johnson to kick over”
Jeepers Hondo…that was nearly twenty years ago. When are you going to join us in 2012?
13 Jul 2012, 21:35 pm
@Hondo(Hondo)-764:
it took a brandy and coke in the face from a local supporter in Kimberley to make him change careers.
That was after he gave a yellow card to the Griquas captain during a game versus the Lions.
ironically, that yellow was a good ruling by Willie, one of his few.
13 Jul 2012, 21:37 pm
@nama1(nama1)-759:
> Everybody can get a sniff.
Oooh, you meant Coke
I thought they gave the Stormers a sniff of their jockstraps…:-)
13 Jul 2012, 21:40 pm
@nama1(nama1)-770: the last time any Keo poster was openly as confident as you Nama was Tacitus, in 2010 before the Sharks/Bulls CC semi final…. and we all know how that turned out! I’m surprised you stopped short of using the “W” word…
13 Jul 2012, 21:40 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-771:
Tappe bliksemed his wife and her boyfriend at the Pretoria Police College Sportsgrounds one evening, he went looking for his wife at a function and found both of them hiding in a closet
13 Jul 2012, 21:41 pm
@Nils(Nils)-767:
The stats must be available but perhaps the “authorities’ are not so keen to make it more freely available. I am not convinced that these guys are really ‘dishonest’- hopefully it is just a matter of some teams being able to adjust better to interpretations than others- let’s hope….
13 Jul 2012, 21:44 pm
@cab(cab)-768:
Fourie having a barnstorming game tomorrow could be a disadvantage for Stormers. It means that he will probably play there again in the semis. No disrespect to the Rebels but I think the quality of the packs (Rebels vs the team in the semis) will be vastly different. I’d rather they play a rookie, specialist 8th man, in the semis than him.
13 Jul 2012, 21:46 pm
lmao on tappe.
13 Jul 2012, 21:47 pm
@cab(cab)-768:
Very true- but Schalk/Vermeulen on the bench will help a lot to settle the nerves at least. I expect a tough game tomorrow specially during the first half but the stormers will eventually have too much class and should eventually win by about 15 (going away)
13 Jul 2012, 21:49 pm
@nama1(nama1)-770:
The Stormers are thriving on points looting, can’t win fair and square, just an embarrassment
13 Jul 2012, 21:49 pm
@nama1(nama1)-776:
jeez i dunno about that nama, he’s very powerful on the drive, massive workrate, and he fetches too – could be rodney solialo, might even have a brainfart and give away a penalty on his tryline but i reckon it could be a very good loosetrio sat – where is etsebeth tho at lock, is bekker going to get stuck in or are rebels gonna take it close?
13 Jul 2012, 21:49 pm
@wooden spoon(wooden spoon)-773:
Hhahaha…
It seems if you never read your good friend, HG’s, posts.
Now there is a confident Shark supporter. Albeit it falsely confident at times.
…and of course old Tac.
13 Jul 2012, 21:51 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-774:
hehehe- Pretoria police sports ground seems to be a notorious place.
Luckily for Tappe he did not find ex pretoria policeman kallie Knoetze hiding in the closet with his wife.
13 Jul 2012, 21:53 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-775: I, too, am reluctant to call any referee a cheat (aka dishonest) outright while I do believe some of them may some preferances/antipathies which sometimes shows.
But those compiled stats (unofficially, of course) would help greatly. Some refs are quite freely brandished as favouring (or hating) some specific teams and they may have their names cleared on fans eyes.
13 Jul 2012, 21:54 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-782:
The place used to be called Aloe Park in those days
Yes, Kallie Would have sorted him out
Did you know he played a few games at flank for NTvl?
13 Jul 2012, 21:56 pm
I’d be curious to know Stuey Dickinson’s stats in games featuring the Sharks…
13 Jul 2012, 21:56 pm
yip i think it was schuster (in one of those oustanding movies he was unlucky to not get nominated for best motion picture) where he try to charge kallie knoetze a toll fee on a dirt road, or was it breaking an egg on his bonnett…
13 Jul 2012, 21:58 pm
yip, i dunno how PC that all was especially donning the shoe polish, but def some of the funniest **** i ever seen, hands down.
13 Jul 2012, 22:00 pm
@cab(cab)-780:
Five minutes before the end of the game tomorrow. Stormers are 5m from the Rebels tryline and have the put in at the scrum.
Does he have the skills to pick up and drive over the try line or is he going to knock on like Schalk did in the WC in 2007? Does he know how to run the correct lines to help with the cover defence, sweep behind the back line if they chip over or put a grubber in behind. Just asking.
We saw when Kolisi played there two weeks ago how he was “out” of the game. Did not perform as well as he did on the side of the scrum.
8th man is a specialist position, like hooker, tight head, scrum half. You just can’t put anybody there just because he plays well in his prefered position.
Just my take on it.
Still hopes that he has a good game tomorrow though.
13 Jul 2012, 22:01 pm
@cab(cab)-786:
Where he tried to sell chickens at Kallie’s farmstall “Die Bek se Plek” ?
13 Jul 2012, 22:07 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-784:
Yes, while still a schoolboy I saw him play in a club game against Northerns rugby club in CT. There was a “light scuffle’ between him and Clifford etsebeth (uncle of Eben and springbok extra heavy weight wrestling champion and notorious streetfighter) during the match but they did not go ‘full out” at each other- probably shared about 10 brandies together after the match, lol.
13 Jul 2012, 22:07 pm
@cab(cab)-786:
Breaking the watermelons at “Die Bek se Padstal”
A stall where Kallie sold fresh produce from his farm.
13 Jul 2012, 22:12 pm
oh ja, not sure if it was hoenders or watlemoen..
he used a stethoscope on a hoenders poephol to check its packaging destination…dunno if that helps
13 Jul 2012, 22:14 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-790:
Imagine playing two of those type of guys against the Poms and Aussies?
I can’t tell you who’d whine more afterwards, most likely the Poms with headlines like “Braai fed beasts bash brave Brits”
13 Jul 2012, 22:16 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-789:
O ja, The chicken thingy.
“Lyk my die vokken hoeners het ‘n siekte” (Tzaneen? Maer beentjies met dik gatte.)
Leon pretending to be an Indian with a blue Valiant station wagon or something?
It was funny…back then.
13 Jul 2012, 22:20 pm
@cab(cab)-792:
The one time he pretended to be an Indian guys selling chickens and
Kallie said “Hierdie hoenders het siektes, kyk hoe lyk hulle, dit lyk of hulle Aids het, sulke maer bene en groot gatte”
13 Jul 2012, 22:22 pm
@nama1(nama1)-791:
He broke the watermelons at a store and kept finding money inside
13 Jul 2012, 22:23 pm
@nama1(nama1)-794:
Did you see when Jimmy Abbott klapped him clean over a table?
13 Jul 2012, 22:38 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-797:
Schuster had a close shave when he approached abbott at an AWB rally during one of his movies– Jimmy was frightingly fast for a man of about 200 kg’s- knocking leon down in a flash and then went for the kill in true street tradition – it was only a desperate: ‘ jimmy, jimmy, dis ek Leon man, asseblief!! ” that saved him from sure death, lol.
13 Jul 2012, 22:40 pm
@Robzim(Robzim)-798:
Wasn’t Jimmy the SA heavyweight champ for a while at least before Gerrie “seer handjies” Coetzee knocked him out?
13 Jul 2012, 22:41 pm
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-796:
That was the pawpaws at a Portuguese shop.
He used Marino (or something like that), a top SA “kulkunstenaar” who made the “Kul jou hier, kul jou daar” phrase famous, to fool the shop owner into believing that there are money hidden in the pawpaws. After a few pawpaws, that “produced” money (the BLUE two rand note), the shop owner was adamant that the rest of the pawpaws were not for sale.
@victoriabok(victoriabok)-797:
That was in Boksburg or some “meer”, wasn’t it?
I read an article about him just yesterday in which he says that he can’t do movies like that anymore because he was moered so hard doing that. With him getting older now, he can do some permanent health damage if het gets moered like that again. Apparently he also has some trouble with ulcers or some such things. Had some operations in the last couple of years because of it.
There is a new movie out or it is coming out very soon while he is planning another one to be released next year.
You know that he played hooker for Free State?
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