Stormers sneak thriller

Stormers sneak thriller

9 Mar 2013

The Stormers dramatically beat the Chiefs 36-34 at Newlands.

The win was vital for the Stormers who lost their first two matches and tournament champions the Chiefs will have the comfort of two bonus points, even if they will feel aggrieved at not having being awarded a kickable penalty with the final play of the game.

It was an unfortunate end to a wonderful contest in which both teams played with enterprise and conviction. The Chiefs were the more cynical and lost two players to to the sin bin for professional fouls.

The Stormers, disappointing against the Bulls and dour against the Sharks, finally produced a performance balanced in defence and attack.

Gio Aplon scored twice and Nic Groom finished off a sustained period of Stormers attack to take the Stormers past 30 points, but it needed a fifth Joe Pietesen penalty to give the Stormers a two score cushion in the final 10 minutes.

The Chiefs were outstanding in their attack variation and flyhalf Aaron Cruden unlocked the Stormers defence with astute grubber kicks. Two such kicks resulted in tries but another misfired and the Stormers scored through Aplon.

Stormers No 8 Duane Vermeulen was aggressive and determined as the home forwards fronted the physicality of the Chiefs. Siya Kolisi and Andries Bekker were equally prominent and with the pack playing with early momentum the Stormers halfbacks of Groom and Elton Jantjies played with authority. It was disappointing that both were substituted within an hour.

The Chiefs are a quality side and even on a day in which their discipline was dubious and there was no sustained fluency to their attack they could have scored a bonus point win.

There will be discussion about Pyper’s refereeing and the Chiefs will make an argument that the home team got favourable decisions, but that’s par for the course in this competition. Pyper was not the reason the Stormers won and he wasn’t the reason the Chiefs lost.

The neutral would have settled on a draw because of the entertainment value, but in the context of South Africa’s tournament challenge the home team will know it was imperative the spectacle ended with a win.

And fullback Joe Pietersen’s unerring boot, in kicking eight from eight, made the win possible, if only just.

By Mark Keohane


471 Comments

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  • 1.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:02 pm

    Go Stormers dragons.

    Just do it!

  • 2.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:06 pm

    This is a huge game for the Stormers. It could well define their season. I can see them giving it the kitchen sink today as they have a bye next weekend.

  • 3.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:14 pm

    @I am a stormer-2:

    Yip, it will be fairly vital to pick up a win – lets hope Elton can pick up the pace today and shows his worth. If he fails today Skopskiet will be unplayable for the next year at least.

  • 4.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:20 pm

    @Robzim-3:

    Especially the way Goosen went today, he will yes.
    Taking the pressure off Elton by taking the goal kicking duties is one thing. But allowing the guy to play his natural game is another. And having a rookie in de Allende at 12 in new combination doesn’t help either. They have had 2 games behind and now it is time to shine.

  • 5.ShaunB: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:21 pm

    It will be very interesting to see just how good the Stormers are.

  • 6.ShaunB: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:22 pm

    A loss here and the Stormers can kiss their conference “title” goodbye.

  • 7.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:41 pm

    What if Elton bombs and Lambie is sublime?

  • 8.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:47 pm

    The Cheetahs handed the first Upset of 2013, that ‘s how competitive the SR is so far :(
    The odds are nearly even at 10:11 for the Stormers to win, the Chiefs have a jet lag, travel fatigue against them while the Stormers will enjoy home field, Jantjies the Rlegator and Jaco Peyper in their line up
    Should be close

  • 9.blue and white stripes: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 16:52 pm

    Where’s Katters.

    He was funny but in that “Agter Elke Man” sort of way.

    :mrgreen:

  • 10.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:02 pm

    I backed the Chiefs on Superbru.
    Go the Chiefs!
    “kontference title” on the line if the stormers lose.

  • 11.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:07 pm

    The three Buddhas look tense.

  • 12.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:12 pm

    Feck cant this game just end so we can watch a real rugby team?

  • 13.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:14 pm

    forward pass!

  • 14.Robzim: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:14 pm

    Great stuff!! lovely pass by Elton.

  • 15.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:14 pm

    What a pass Elton !!!!

  • 16.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:15 pm

    Aplon and Jantjies!!!!!!!!!

    Suck on it Hondo.

  • 17.David: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:15 pm

    @Fern-12:
    Didn’t know you were a Kings fan.

  • 18.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:15 pm

    Shut it ferntjie

  • 19.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:16 pm

    Great work by Elton there.

  • 20.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:16 pm

    @David-17:
    Hahaha!
    Sharks all the way.

  • 21.Angostura: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:19 pm

    Great start from the Stormers
    This more like it

  • 22.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:19 pm

    Cullert in the stands with a all black jersey on…

  • 23.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:19 pm

    So far, so good.

  • 24.Sharks_are_gonna_get_you: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:21 pm

    @Fern-22: Goooo Chiefsssssssssss

  • 25.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:22 pm

    stormers playing with a strong wind.

  • 26.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:23 pm

    Good kick with the wind at his back.

  • 27.gunther: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:24 pm

    @Fern-25:

    Indeed.

    Most of it coming from Skinstad.

  • 28.Sharks_are_gonna_get_you: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:25 pm

    One eyed Skinstad, so typical trying to say he did not have control,

  • 29.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:25 pm

    soft try,stormers have blown their load prematurely.

  • 30.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:25 pm

    Nothing wrong with the comments on the try.

    Game on!

  • 31.Sharks_are_gonna_get_you: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:25 pm

    Well done Chiefs

  • 32.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:26 pm

    good steal from the chiefs

  • 33.W.P: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:28 pm

    JP must be moered hard! I’m sure that the Chiefs had a look at how poor he was under the high ball.

  • 34.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:28 pm

    rubbish fleck with his hands in his hair.

  • 35.willievz: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:32 pm

    Streaming link anyone?

  • 36.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:33 pm

    jaco peyper mom so far for the stormers.

  • 37.W.P: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:33 pm

    Stormers backs just can’t run onto the ball at pace to hit it up.

  • 38.mikeybrass: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:35 pm

    @willievz-35: vipbox

    @Fern-36: pfffttt

  • 39.I am a stormer: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:36 pm

    Great tackle Vermeulen.

  • 40.willievz: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:36 pm

    @mikeybrass-38: Vipbox doesn’t work

  • 41.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:36 pm

    Go Stormers, think Jantjes will come good today.

  • 42.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:37 pm

    @willievz-35:
    Ek dink jy kan op die dstv website kyk.
    Jou ouers moet in SA registreer en jy kan dan aanlog met hulle password en so kyk.
    Ek is seker daarvan,vra net rond.

  • 43.Hondo: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:37 pm

    You got to give it to the SRHD Camera men: the way theY eliminate the incriminating angles of Jaco Peyper’s cheating in Real Time are not short of a mastery!
    :D

  • 44.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:38 pm

    Siya kolisi is bloody strong

  • 45.W.P: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:39 pm

    Yeah Sharkies – Peyper is MOM – Chiefs don’t have any ball lol. Shame

  • 46.Thucydides: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:39 pm

    @willievz-40:

    this link is working for me:

    http://www.viponlinesports.eu/rugby/129259/3/super-rugby:-western-stormers-vs-waikato-chiefs–live-stream-online.html

  • 47.W.P: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:42 pm

    Another ruck infringement – from the side – that’s yellow

  • 48.Fern: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:43 pm

    Now it is 14 men against 16 men…

  • 49.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:43 pm

    Jantjes playing as though he is not going to see much ball

  • 50.bananaboy: Reply to this comment
    9 Mar 2013, 17:45 pm

    @Fern-48: nay Stormers trying to play off quick ball continually being slowed down by players in from the side

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