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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9 Mar 2013, 18:18 pm
hard call on habs that one
9 Mar 2013, 18:18 pm
To all you rugby Nostradamusi and rugby Einsteins:
Give me an in form Bekker any time. Stormers/Boks
In my most humble opiniom Spies and Vermeulen not on the same page. Vetgat can walk 10 meters with half the Chiefs on his shoulders
Kolisi is like Uli Scmidt, not the biggest, bur ceryainly punches way above his weight
Stronf Elstadt still faces the attack uproght. Where the coacjes?
Did I see a shoulder charge noarm butch james fellinfg of Pietersen from a kick off?
I do not think the first Chiefs try was a try. Didn’t look like control and downward pressure. But then again I’m sitting on a couch.
Even Ginger looks fired up today. Go Vlamme
And Curse, I heard on the radio, during a talkshow, that pessimistic (read negative) people live longer than optimistic0people
Not sure about the spellingn the font on my BB must be half a micro mm
9 Mar 2013, 18:19 pm
That’s no penalty. Habana got back to his feet.
9 Mar 2013, 18:19 pm
@mikeybrass-63: Tx Mikey. vipbox new to me. Watched the end of Wales vs Scotland. Good comeback from MOM Warburton.
9 Mar 2013, 18:19 pm
Oh no, the second-best hooker in the country has a boo-boo on his nose
9 Mar 2013, 18:20 pm
@Fern-100: Shut it, idiot.
9 Mar 2013, 18:20 pm
I hope the stats guys can come back to us. But I think Bekker must be the tallest centre in the history of the game
9 Mar 2013, 18:21 pm
@DontThinkJustWonder-104: Missed it.
@the curse-101: Yeah but it was the right call.
9 Mar 2013, 18:21 pm
It’s a real nailbiter. Great when they play like this.
9 Mar 2013, 18:22 pm
Some running by Stormers. By time
9 Mar 2013, 18:22 pm
@Fern.
Thoroughly entertaining boet.
9 Mar 2013, 18:22 pm
See Stormers, you can bloody attack!!!!!!!!!
9 Mar 2013, 18:23 pm
Siya Kolisi would be a useful impact player for the Springboks.
9 Mar 2013, 18:24 pm
GGRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
Good try Groom! Been better then I thought him capable of.
Skop hulle gatte.
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
stormers deserve their lead. playing the better rugby.
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
fark double movement try…
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
Only way to play Chiefs is to deny them ball by keeping the ball in the hands and Stormers are doing it brilliantly
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
Awesome play Stormers
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
Groom you beauty!!!!
9 Mar 2013, 18:25 pm
Well done boet! You have played brilliantly!
9 Mar 2013, 18:26 pm
@Fern-117: Shut it you ignorant doos.
9 Mar 2013, 18:26 pm
@hendrikp-113: all of the Stormers loosies could be the Bokke loose trio but then we have some great lossies in SA
9 Mar 2013, 18:26 pm
@hendrikp-113: Kolisi is simple awesome. He has bulked up and the impact he makes is impressive.
9 Mar 2013, 18:27 pm
The Cape Chiefs changed jerseys at halftime I see
9 Mar 2013, 18:27 pm
@Fern-117:
You’re actually behaving like a girls blouse now.
9 Mar 2013, 18:27 pm
Pauliasi Manu doing his team any favors today. Rebels won’t regret that decision on todays performance.
9 Mar 2013, 18:27 pm
@hendrikp-111:
Ek het in Paekakariki gesit en homesick gevoel toe spoor ek die sait op die interwebs op.
Ek het al Griffin en Chopper Charlie ontmoet.
Cool seuns.
9 Mar 2013, 18:28 pm
@mikeybrass-122:
You are what you eat,yes I am a doos.
9 Mar 2013, 18:28 pm
@the curse-116: Grant10 must be cursing deciding not to go to Newlands
9 Mar 2013, 18:28 pm
Why can’t the Boks play like Stormers?
9 Mar 2013, 18:29 pm
Stretcher being called,always very sad.
I hope Habana is okay.
9 Mar 2013, 18:29 pm
@hendrikp-127:
**not doing
@mikeybrass-124:
Probably the Stormers best player with Etzebeth out.
Still wouldn’t be confident starting him, but with bench playing such a big part, and soon to be 23 players as well, guys like him, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Hougaard would be ideal candidates for the last 20-30 minutes.
9 Mar 2013, 18:30 pm
Oh no Habana
9 Mar 2013, 18:30 pm
Mikey
been a great game regardless of result.
9 Mar 2013, 18:31 pm
that try looked easy peasy
we still have a game folks
9 Mar 2013, 18:31 pm
Scored a few tries but they can’t defend to save their lives today.
9 Mar 2013, 18:32 pm
Dammit
9 Mar 2013, 18:32 pm
Beautiful rugby by Chiefs, can’t help to praise it.
9 Mar 2013, 18:32 pm
Pleasantly surprised Stormers playing enterprising rugby. Well done okes.
Nevertheless, GO CHIEFS!!!
9 Mar 2013, 18:32 pm
@the curse-135: Thoroughly enjoying it.
@hendrikp-137: It’s extremely difficult to defend against the Chiefs.
9 Mar 2013, 18:33 pm
That’s the danger of the Chiefs. That was too easy. Eish. Poor communication between centres there. Whatever the result I’m just glad that the brand of rugby by the Stormers is truer to their style of play.
9 Mar 2013, 18:33 pm
Grant10 must never go back to Newlands.
9 Mar 2013, 18:34 pm
@W.P-142:
sensing a choke?
9 Mar 2013, 18:34 pm
@mikeybrass-141:
It is when you give them so much space yes.
It’s just poor defense my man, nothing else.
9 Mar 2013, 18:34 pm
Oh, fark, Stormers are on the verge of scoring 4 tries in a Super game since .. erm … Elvis died?
And that’s against the defending champs, not bad at all.
9 Mar 2013, 18:36 pm
A tense few minutes ahead for the Stormers. These Chiefs can score 14 points in 2 minutes!
9 Mar 2013, 18:36 pm
@kaksioek-143: Fark, what an irony. Boycotted for the first time since dinosaur era and they play the best rugby I can recall.
9 Mar 2013, 18:37 pm
@polaris-148: Were you the other one? Rugby viewers everywhere appreciate your sacrifice.
9 Mar 2013, 18:38 pm
What’s with the Fern chap? Sook jy aandag? Go have a lekker dop.
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