Steyn slays Stormers
22 Feb 2013
Morne Steyn kicked the Bulls to a winning Super Rugby start as the hosts easily beat the Stormers.
The Bulls won 25-17 after leading 9-0 at half time.
A Loftus crowd of 44 272 watched the opening match to the South African season.
The match was poor in quality with both teams a mess in the line outs and ineffective on attack among the backs.
Defence was good and the physicality was, as always, prominent, but neither side threatened with ball in hand. The backs on both sides moved it too lateral and this was a match won in the trenches by the more dominant and composed pack.
The Bulls at scrum and in the collisions were the stronger and superior team, especially in the first 40 minutes. The go forward and momentum was with the Bulls for the majority of the match and despite a brief rally from the Stormers after half time the visitors offered little.
Stormers captain Jean de Villiers admitted afterwards the better team on the night had won and that the Stormers had been forced into too many mistakes.
Steyn, man of the match, kicked seven from seven, and impressed with a composed and mature tactical kicking game. Steyn, with his forwards in charge, controlled the game and the Bulls played the match in the right areas of the field.
There was very little flow to the game and it wasn’t helped because of periods in which there were uncontested scrums. This favoured the Stormers whose pack took a beating.
Elton Jantjies suffered in his debut for the Stormers and one felt for the young Bok flyhalf, who suffered the tragic loss of his father less than a month ago. Jantjies is an outstanding goal kicker with a Super Rugby career average of 80 percent, but his radar never functioned and he missed four successive penalty kicks. Joe Petersen was introduced for Gio Aplon and kicked all three efforts, but the match was one influenced by the Bulls forward effort and sealed by Steyn’s flawless goal kicking.
Steyn and Pierre Spies excelled for the hosts, and predictably Victor Matfield’s planning in combating Andries Bekker and the Stormers line out paid dividend. It was also aided by Deon Fourie’s experiencing a night at hooker the equal of Jantjies’s goal kicking.
Jean de Villiers was a strong presence for the Stormers and Bryan Habana’s night did not lack for effort. Siya Kolisi was the best of the Stormers loose-forwards but with the Bulls, as a unit, the more cohesive and impressive up front, Steyn was good enough to slay the Stormers.
By Mark Keohane
613 Comments
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23 Feb 2013, 00:56 am
@nortierd-400: I don’t dispute that fact ,but I’ll have this chat with you again when Jantjies and Taute have a few games under the belt rather than being labeled as duds after one game.
23 Feb 2013, 00:59 am
@S_K-401:
I really hope so.
I am worried this year, with the loss today and the Sharks and Chiefs next up, we can be in deep doo doo after 3 weeks
23 Feb 2013, 01:01 am
@nortierd-396:
> Jantjies is only there for one season.
You know that the fly half must run the show.
I feel sorry for him, it’s not all his fault.
I think you’ll take him over once his Lions contract has run out
Same with Taute
23 Feb 2013, 01:06 am
Jantjies shouldn’t have been in the team today shows what a bloody retardant the Stormers coaching fraternity is. F’ng idiots of mammoth mismatch propensity. Stormers 1000 times better soon as Pietersen started taking kicking and Duvenhage running at pivot like chalk vs cheese
23 Feb 2013, 01:06 am
@victoriabok-403:
If he does decide to stay, he must take charge.
He must chase the forwards out of the backline and play as he sees fit.
If he stuffs up while trying something exciting, I won’t be so bothered, but if he plays like a per programmed drone and still stuffs up, well that’s worth getting irritated with.
23 Feb 2013, 01:07 am
I am out of here .keep the faith Nortierd.the boys will get it right, sooner rather than later.
23 Feb 2013, 01:09 am
@S_K-406:
Cheers
We have no choice, we must.
Enjoy the evening
23 Feb 2013, 01:09 am
@skopdiekan-404: I agree with you on that point ,Skop . He should not have played against the bulls.
23 Feb 2013, 01:09 am
Just got home from the game
Who is that no 12 from WP again?
All he did whole game was telling Jantjies and Taute were to stand
Pretty angry dude
Won’t want him in my team
23 Feb 2013, 01:10 am
Gone now.cheers
23 Feb 2013, 01:15 am
@Atlas-409:
Damian DeAllende
Was a crappy game to watch from the stands.
Enjoyed the vibe, but not so much the match
23 Feb 2013, 01:31 am
Would have invited you for a beer if I knew you were going
Had lots of fun
First game everyone were rusty
I think it was 50/50 support?
And thanks for the name. He seem like a doos
My phone sucks so I’m out
When you want tickets to a game at my losie we can chat
23 Feb 2013, 01:36 am
Running late
And no sign of Nama? how come
Well with the 10-15 points that Peyper gifted the Looters it surly raises the question:
How many points did Jantjies cost them?
Another question is: what was the combined contribution of Jantjies, Aplon and Habana in this game?
That’s not to say that Kirchner, Mapoe and Basson contributed much more,
How the hell these two rugby unions plan to face the NZ teams this year is beyond me.
23 Feb 2013, 01:44 am
@Atlas-412:
Thanks, will be fun
Enjoy the evening
Cheers
23 Feb 2013, 01:45 am
Oh. One last thing. All the Strompies said they will own us in the scrums…..
23 Feb 2013, 01:47 am
@Atlas-415:
You murdered us.
If it wasn’t for the uncontested it would have been worse.
23 Feb 2013, 02:20 am
Congrats to the Bulls for their win but it’s pretty ugly stuff to watch.
23 Feb 2013, 02:23 am
The teams seemed so slow, compared to the other games today. Steyn and Vermeulen stood out as top performers for their team. But neither side really stepped up to any degree, ineffective backline play for the majority of the game and the Bulls tight five slighty edging the counterparts. Gotta hit them kicks.
23 Feb 2013, 02:56 am
You Breezers make me laugh
23 Feb 2013, 03:01 am
@lightie-418:
Clearly there was no extra training put into back line play during the off season, Steyn is going to have to kick a lot of penalties against teams like the Chiefs.
23 Feb 2013, 03:20 am
Wasn’t it the very FIRST game Sir Elton played in his new team skipping all pre-season warmup games due to compassion leave?
In that case, AC decision to make him debut in probably the most hostile rugby place in SA without any prior rehearsals backfired big time with his confidence sinking faster than Titanic.
23 Feb 2013, 03:28 am
@NZINCHINA-420:
China…Bro…I went for the Bulls on the back of Morne being a proven match winner and the home ground advantage. Plus I agree with Skops sentiments regarding Jantjies, probably not as vehemently, that he is somewhat flaky and has yet to really prove himself against the top sides in this comp.
23 Feb 2013, 03:38 am
@Te Rangatira-422:
He’s certainly done it for them many times before at Loftus so good call, I’m looking forward to the NZ backs getting amongst these SA teams.
23 Feb 2013, 03:43 am
@NZINCHINA-423:
The way the Chiefs and Highlanders came outta the blocks last night with them taking it to the line, going to be very interesting when they come up against the Sa sides who will try and grind them out in the forwards and kick the up and unders
23 Feb 2013, 03:48 am
@Te Rangatira-424:
What a game the skill level just keeps rising but more importantly our beloved Blues kick off tonight.
23 Feb 2013, 03:49 am
Tonights game with the Blues v Hurricanes is another game that may get a tad loose…I’m hoping the Blues take them on in the forwards with the pick and go and good drives from lineouts and mauls.
23 Feb 2013, 03:52 am
@NZINCHINA-425:
Yep…so glad we have a coaching staff JK & GH, that have the true interests of Auckland Rugby at heart….No mercy for them Canes…
23 Feb 2013, 03:54 am
@NZINCHINA-425:
Oh yes the skill level, wonderful advertisement for running rugby….
23 Feb 2013, 03:57 am
I enjoyed the game earlier but the first 30 minutes from a defensive structure and discipline in the tackle area was quite poor. It’s crazy how simple things like trying to hit the arms evade some players, backs trying to run over props etc, eish! The 10 channel looked vulnerable in that Chiefs game. The enterprise and offloading was sublime though.
23 Feb 2013, 03:58 am
@Te Rangatira-427:
Couldn’t get any Bluer than those two, the Canes have got some superb backs on show tonight so there should be plenty of tries, the reason why we watch the game.
23 Feb 2013, 04:02 am
@lightie-429:
When the Bulls won the super title in 09 or 10 they leaked plenty of tries, sometimes letting in 20 or 30 points a game but still won.
23 Feb 2013, 04:05 am
@NZINCHINA-430:
Yep…the Canes backs are slippery and very skilful…the Perenara guy is another who needs to be watched closely.
@lightie-429:
Yep, the defence needs to tighten up and everyone needs to put their body on the line when they come up against teams from Sa…..if you can’t match those sides in the tight, they’re going to run over you.
23 Feb 2013, 04:08 am
@NZINCHINA-431:
The Bulls forwards from that vintage were very very good….they were the difference…plus the rules suited them to a tee.
23 Feb 2013, 04:15 am
@Te Rangatira-433:
They knew they could overpower sides in the 2nd 40 at Loftus but they still leaked plenty of tries.
23 Feb 2013, 04:16 am
@NZINCHINA-431:
Fair point. Exception to the norm perhaps. I still think it’s a different game now and defences are only getting better. I should probably wait till week 3 or 4 before I judge teams, let them get some form and momentum. I must say the scrummie options in New Zealand are scary at the moment.
23 Feb 2013, 04:18 am
Funny thing is Rangi when they were doing it, it was vintage rugby when a NZ side does it it’s called basketball.
23 Feb 2013, 04:22 am
@lightie-435:
Yer of course very early days but I still think the Loftus crowd would love to see a return of the Bulls throwing it around and scoring 5 tries, they got the win last night which is the most important thing but a bit of entertainment wouldn’t go a miss either.
23 Feb 2013, 04:24 am
@NZINCHINA-436:
hehe…..We know what our sides are about, China……ball movement….
23 Feb 2013, 04:28 am
@Te Rangatira-438:
And pace.
23 Feb 2013, 04:29 am
@Te Rangatira-438:
The Blues shouldn’t have let Anscombe go, he looked very composed last night.
23 Feb 2013, 04:29 am
@NZINCHINA-434:
Yep….but there have been a few sides throughout the history of the comp, that carried a confidence about them….that the winning result seemed inevitable….
23 Feb 2013, 04:31 am
Stormers flatter to decieve….again.
D Fourie needs to concentrate on playing openside….that lineout throwing is now beyond a joke…
well done Bulls.
all in all a rather unflattering advert for the state of SA Rugby….I hope the Sharks can reproduce the last month of last years form, or the Aussies and Kiwis are going to be laughing at us again…..
23 Feb 2013, 04:32 am
@NZINCHINA-440:
He was treated rather shabbily imo, especially last year when they kept on going back to Hobbs….he will grow in the Waikato and it will be our loss…Good for him though…
23 Feb 2013, 04:33 am
@Te Rangatira-441:
The semi against the Crusaders, I can’t remember the year but the Bulls were down by around 20 and still powered back to thump them impressive stuff, you must be including the Blues sides of 96 or 97 with that comment they never looked like losing, ah the glory days.
23 Feb 2013, 04:33 am
@lightie-439:
Yes Lightie and pace…that’s across the board..
23 Feb 2013, 04:35 am
@Te Rangatira-443:
He was, I’m hearing big things about the Blues 15′ though sorry I can’t remember his name.
23 Feb 2013, 04:37 am
@grant10-442:
Wasn’t much of a spectacle for the crowd!
23 Feb 2013, 04:37 am
@NZINCHINA-444:
Oh the glory days…(.I saw Jonah today….hes looking ok, still needs another kidney)…The skill level in that team was sublime
23 Feb 2013, 04:40 am
@NZINCHINA-446:
Theres Charles Piutau…a rampaging brute of a player from the back…I think he was U/20 player of the year in 2011….if he can combine with Ranger….fireworx
23 Feb 2013, 04:41 am
@Te Rangatira-448:
Poor b ugger I hope he pulls through ok, GH did a great job with that team but they probably would have done it without a coach they were so good.
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