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, 19:30 pm
@mikeybrass-245: “Us Stormers are used to beating Kiwis”
Let me quietly whisper two words.
“the crusaders”
9 Mar 2013, 19:31 pm
Nortie
congrats mate. pleased for you. your team played really well. I have no qualms congratulating you and your team. it’s just these other fckers who only ever complain about kiwi cheating but can’t admit their teams do it too
as I told mikey, the fish are biting hard.
9 Mar 2013, 19:32 pm
@nortierd-244: Special congrats to you, as you’ve been suffering long enough.
This should cheer you up big time.
9 Mar 2013, 19:32 pm
@polaris-250:
Going to be difficult calling Stormers v Crusaders
Crusaders will now also start getting desperate after 2 losses
They do enjoy playing at Newlands, but Stormers will be fresh after the break
9 Mar 2013, 19:34 pm
Absolute nail biter of a match, very glad the stormers managed to take it. The chiefs however, look really good still. Any team that can push that far and hard despite the travel etc deserves serious respect.
9 Mar 2013, 19:35 pm
@the curse-251:
Thanks
Was nice to see
I agree and to be honest, I also dislike the current reffing.
I think an Aussie should blow NZ v SA sides, and a SA ref Aus v NZ etc., but nothing we can do to change that
polaris-252:
Thanks bud
Was really an important win, so I am very happy and relieved
9 Mar 2013, 19:35 pm
@nortierd-253: Indeed, since the whipping in CT’2010, Saders firmly have the wood over them, however when Stormers are on fire, the opposition need a huge dose of firefighters. I have no illusuions, Saders are for a really tough assignment there.
9 Mar 2013, 19:36 pm
@Tartan-254:
Very well said
Major respect
Not often anyone scores 4 tries against the Stormers, and you are right, with the travel to get away with 2 bonus points is brilliant
9 Mar 2013, 19:37 pm
@nortierd-255: I agree boet, its a shame that the focus is taken off the rugby and the man in the middle becomes the reason/angst/excuse for why teams lose..
seems many of your countrymen dont like it when we c9omplain about your refs, but remain so quiet when the reverse is true..
I love pointing it out though…
I hope you are drinking that leftover beer from the bulls game and savouring every drop
9 Mar 2013, 19:38 pm
Fark, how mighty Frogs have fallen. Dissipating quickier than a corpse in the acid.
9 Mar 2013, 19:39 pm
@polaris-250: Them aside, though we beat them in ’10.
9 Mar 2013, 19:40 pm
Yip hometown decisions are the order of the day. It happens all the time. As I said the Chiefs were cynical today but if they played at home with a different referee the Stormers would not have got some of the decisions awarded to them.
9 Mar 2013, 19:40 pm
@the curse-258:
Ha ha
Watching the SA champions outkick the whipping boys
Alarm is set for 4:30 tomorrow morning
You feeling confident with your boys?
This is the big one for you and TR
9 Mar 2013, 19:41 pm
@mikeybrass-260: True and that was a hell of a beating, but that was the last time. They are the bogeys.
9 Mar 2013, 19:43 pm
well well well…
9 Mar 2013, 19:44 pm
@nortierd-262:
Geez…Nortie…up to the Blues now to restore a little pride …alas my Bru is in tatters…Houston is to blame… Physically the Sa sides have monstered us…too good
9 Mar 2013, 19:45 pm
how unsurprising
if you simply apply the rules and blow them
you see them for the paper tigers they are
9 Mar 2013, 19:46 pm
@nortierd-262: not sure Nortie, think JK has made too many changes, why when we have the bye next week? cant understand it myself, am afraid we will lose the momentum and be dis-jointed with the different players coming in..
I am just searching the internet to buy my ear plugs and my sunglasses as I can already hear bakkies excuses if the blues win… take a look at the Cheetahs thread, and this from a man who doesnt watch super rugby anymore?
9 Mar 2013, 19:46 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-264:
And a special welcome to the Ministry of Referees
Welcome Bakkies
The NZ refs are having a clandestine meeting in Auckland right now rubbing their hands together and twirling their mustaches while planning the downfall of the Bulls.
Can you hear the wha ha ha laughing coming from their secret chambers
9 Mar 2013, 19:46 pm
@Te Rangatira-265:
hallo TR,
i’m looking forrward to our buddy China’s next visit
9 Mar 2013, 19:48 pm
@Te Rangatira-265:
My friend, let’s not even go to Superbru
You have had one bad week, myself and pops are still looking for a good week
@the curse-267:
Strange, but I’m sure he knows what he is doing
9 Mar 2013, 19:49 pm
@Te Rangatira-265: chance for our boys to top the conference tomorrow bro, lets hope the ref has got his instructions yeah?
9 Mar 2013, 19:50 pm
This is it… The year that Keo’s predications finally come true
9 Mar 2013, 19:50 pm
@nortierd-270: maybe, I think he has picked a forward pack to counter the expected rolling maul of the Bulls, not sure I agree..
think Luatua is in his best position, and regardless of the result, think he will own Spies tomorrow, though thats not too hard
9 Mar 2013, 19:51 pm
@the curse-273:
Lol
If they give Spies an open game and space, you are going to regret that comment
9 Mar 2013, 19:52 pm
@fantasticbarnsmell-272:
Let’s not be too hasty. That’s a sign of the endtimes.
9 Mar 2013, 19:52 pm
Bakkies
you dont watch super rugby but you admit to watching a cheetahs replay?
what a paranoid kont you are
why dont you feck off
9 Mar 2013, 19:53 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-269:
Morning Houston
You feeling chipper today…
9 Mar 2013, 19:53 pm
@nortierd-274: the bloke should be playing wing, his original position… could have been a great there, but is a poor poor 8th man.. imo of course..
9 Mar 2013, 19:54 pm
@nortierd-268:
nand se Nortie,
jy kan maar bly wees die skeidsregter het gekies om sy werk te doen vanmidag.
hoe vervrissend…
the Bulls are bad travelers and dont even need the usual kiwi ref against them in order to lose so i dont hold my hopes up.
just a good account of themselves is all i ask.
9 Mar 2013, 19:56 pm
is it just me or are the Sharks not attacking as much these days..?..
9 Mar 2013, 19:58 pm
@the curse-271:
Kia ora Bro…..I’m in re-assessment mode now…the Sa teams so far have done the basics very well and have taught Nz sides a lesson….Heres to the Blues running game doing the damage…
9 Mar 2013, 19:58 pm
@the curse-278:
I agree nr 8 is not his position
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-279:
To many close calls go against the visitors IMO, but yes, I’m not complaining
I have previously said, if your team wins, the ref is great, if they lose, he was useless
Just the nature of the beast
The Bulls have done better in the last few years with travel, Cheetahs showed this morning anything can happen
9 Mar 2013, 19:58 pm
@the curse-278: I think this observation is right. He is the worst Bok 8 of the post-isolation era.
9 Mar 2013, 19:59 pm
@nortierd-274: hehe, as Lennon once sung
“Give spies a chance”.
9 Mar 2013, 19:59 pm
hallo Poppa,
i admit i was intrigued by the final score and couldn’t resist taking a look.
you nuaghty boys not having it your way as easily as we all expected this season, hey..?..
@Te Rangatira-277:
same as any other day, boet
9 Mar 2013, 20:00 pm
@nortierd-270:
I’m happy for you Nortie that your team played with heart and got a deserved victory….Wonderful for the Tournament
9 Mar 2013, 20:01 pm
@Te Rangatira-281: Highlanders came off a bye, never conducive to being at your best, and they gifted Cheetahs two tries, regardless of what anyone says here..
Chiefs played well in patches, and could have won the game… no shame there, Stormers were the more desperate side and it showed.. they did provide the blueprint for everyone else playing the stormers, the little kick in behind the defense worked well, and Cruden gifted the Stormers a try weith a failed attempt at this tactic..
not convinced the Saffa teams are better at all, so will disagree with you..
9 Mar 2013, 20:01 pm
@polaris-284:
Lol
I think Imagine is still banned in Pretoria, so odds are Spies doesn’t know who Lennon is
9 Mar 2013, 20:03 pm
@Te Rangatira-286:
Thanks
Was a nice match from a spectator point of view
One day we will get that elusive 4 try bonus point
Huge respect for the Chiefs though, with the travel to still score 4 against a very good defense and pick up a losing bonus point, was really good
9 Mar 2013, 20:03 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-285: tyournaments not won in March bakkies..
as noted above, the highlanders were their own worst enemies, gifting the cheetahs some very soft tries… seems they are struggling for cohesion with their new personnel, it happens..
Cheetahs turned up to play and did very well, full credit to them and the Stormers as well, both were committed and had serious intensity..
goes a long way to winning any game imo..
9 Mar 2013, 20:04 pm
@nortierd-282:
two yellow cards and multiple penalties is “close calls going against the visitors” ..?..
ja right
pull the other farkin one
9 Mar 2013, 20:04 pm
@nortierd-288: He definitely should. This is the oke who wrote “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”
(y’know the rumours about chemistry)
9 Mar 2013, 20:06 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-291:
Ok, blatant calls against the visitors
Don’t complain if there are 2 yellows against the Bulls tomorrow.
9 Mar 2013, 20:07 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-291: Wait. This is not the real Bakkies.
The real Bakkies “sees no evil, hears no evil” when it comes to reffing vs Keewees.
9 Mar 2013, 20:07 pm
@nortierd-288: seen your comment re the hurricanes..
me too, first time I dont tip them and they win, I just knew theyd do it to me…
still, only way is up once you hit rock bottom..
seems karma is still paying me back
9 Mar 2013, 20:07 pm
@the curse-287:
You have to give the Cheetahs forwards some credit..they were huge in defence and played with some mongrel. Same goes for the Stormers, backs against the wall….dug deep for the win….
9 Mar 2013, 20:08 pm
@polaris-293: no no no, as many here have told me, it was hereditary
at 21???
9 Mar 2013, 20:08 pm
@Te Rangatira-297: they were off side all day
9 Mar 2013, 20:11 pm
@the curse-296:
We suck at Superbru
But I always say next week is moving week
I reckon we must pick at least 2 games against the run of play, eg Cheetahs away while everything scream Landers etc
Got nothing to lose now
Kings over Chiefs next week?
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