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, 20:12 pm
@the curse-290:
nobody said it was, Poppa… nobody said it was….
agreed the Cheetahs turned up for the full 80 but i was more amazed the ref blew the Highlanders as much as he did (i’m flippin serious when i say this).
there was definitely a lot of naughty stuff and the penalties were deserved but you’re right the Cheetahs were good to capitalise where they could.
Sopoaga was atrocious and Thorn’s age is starting to show maybe.
i will watch the hi-lites of the Stormers game because once again it seems i have good reason to check up on the refs behaviour. it seems it was a case of the Chiefs not getting away with ‘their usual game’ and failing to adapt adequately..?..
9 Mar 2013, 20:12 pm
@Te Rangatira-287: are you a Chiefs man bud?
9 Mar 2013, 20:12 pm
Bakkies
how do you know about two yellow cards?
you dont watch super rugby remember?
9 Mar 2013, 20:13 pm
@the curse-299:
hehe… they were desperate..which is a good thing…
9 Mar 2013, 20:13 pm
Rugby games are supposed to be non-fiction, not pre-scripted like wrestling. The refereeing in Brisbane (Hurricanes) and Newlands disrespects the sport. And, how come New Zealand teams are victimised year in, year out. Rhetorical question – it is punishment for being too good, but relatively too weak, poor, and voiceless.” Victories” like this one are a continuation of the century-long masturbation fantasy you SA types have about your rugby. Reality is not welcome.
I hope that rugby will become truly professional in your lifetimes.
9 Mar 2013, 20:14 pm
Nortie
lol. agree with going against what we think on bru
you just know you have to tip that call now, least it comes back to haunt you
9 Mar 2013, 20:14 pm
@Atreides-302:
No.. I’m a Blues supporter…but played some club Rugby in Hamilton…
9 Mar 2013, 20:16 pm
@the curse-306:
Well, they are keeping the SA hope of 2013 tryless
9 Mar 2013, 20:18 pm
@nortierd-294:
not necessary
Kiwis are so flippin bad that ‘they’re actually quite good’ at being blatantly subtle when they screw you.
9 Mar 2013, 20:18 pm
@nortierd-308: 12-3 is great for the kings, could you imagine Fern and Hg if they happened to lose to them..
wouldnt see their names for the dust their feet would kick up..
9 Mar 2013, 20:19 pm
@nortierd-308: also, i am NOT using your philosophy of putting my bru picks in after a bad weekend..
it has only continued my poor form in that regard
9 Mar 2013, 20:19 pm
@polaris-295:
hehehe
i was being facetious
9 Mar 2013, 20:20 pm
@the curse-310:
Man, that thought is keeping me going
9 Mar 2013, 20:20 pm
@the curse-303:
http://sarugby.net/matchbreakdown.aspx?id=113771&category=&leagueid=0&homeid=15171&awayid=15151&fullview=true
went through the match report.
i actually regret not watching these two game live.
9 Mar 2013, 20:23 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-312: LOL, for a moment I thought your dislike of Stormers got the better of your dislike of Keewees, so you suddenly DID SEE something about the ref.
Alas, we have to wait till the next time Saffas get beaten, to know everything about the oppo players, ref, camera angles, ighting, grass etc.
9 Mar 2013, 20:23 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-309:
Sounds like a casino
@the curse-311:
Nothing is working
Too be fair, most experts also had many wrong this week
The guys who made what we consider weird or dark horse picks scored big time
9 Mar 2013, 20:24 pm
Evening all
The Cheetahs – well done fellas.
The Stormers and Chiefs: what a brill game of rugga. Dodgy calls here and there, a few cynical moves, some confusion and a few other wobbly bits….BUT: the game was incredible. Shy te, even if the Stormers had lost it, I would have been celebrating the type of rugby played.
I do say that IF the Stormers had won those 1st 2 games in the traditional conservative manner, I doubt we would have seen the rugga we saw today……
Seems the guppies are trying to win the tournie on penalties this year, not the Stormers……
Funny that…..guppies happy with the close wins and penalties…..
And tommorrow morning….Spies’s sh y te gets real
9 Mar 2013, 20:24 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-314:
Best you don’t watch the Bulls game too…you may jinx them…a bit like what you’ve done to my Super Bru
9 Mar 2013, 20:27 pm
@nortierd-313:
wouldnt it be just the best thing ever? I am seriously thinking of getting a coin, home team is heads, and see how it goes…why not 
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-317: congrats Pedigree lady.. you must be brimming from ear to ear
9 Mar 2013, 20:28 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-317: Agree, it was a great game.
9 Mar 2013, 20:28 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-317:
Hi
Just very happy with the win
As Fern pointed out earlier this afternoon, we are mere amateurs
But he must explain why the professionals can’t score a try against the whipping boys
9 Mar 2013, 20:29 pm
PS say thank you to Andre Watson for today’s little gift.
9 Mar 2013, 20:29 pm
@polaris-315:
hehehe
well no, not really
i’m semi-retired now and will only give breakdowns of the ref and opposition in one or two of the Bulls games.
for my sanity and yours.
you know the saying about insanity being ‘the act of bleating over and over again about the same facts of cheating and expecting a different result’ the next time it happens…
@nortierd-316:
hahahaha
ja, beslis
9 Mar 2013, 20:30 pm
Hi Nortie and co! I’m enjoying a stiff drink – was at Newlands today. Let’s say “a win is a win” but the Chiefs are a bunch of dangerous rugby players!! Cruden, Nanai-Williams etc are very talented players.
I’ve always had the feeling that the Chiefs would come back. Fortunately we survived!
9 Mar 2013, 20:30 pm
@the curse-319:
Nothing to lose
I hate those who don’t pick then get a bloodie default point and we get nothing
9 Mar 2013, 20:31 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-323: Semi-retired? I hope it is thanks to a good reason, not due to bad.
And yes – sanity should be treasured. Like truth – spend it wisely.
9 Mar 2013, 20:31 pm
@Te Rangatira-318:
hehehe
fark! you may be onto something here, TR
9 Mar 2013, 20:32 pm
@CharlesM-324: enjoy the moment Charles, would have been a great game to see live..
@nortierd-325: that was my other option
9 Mar 2013, 20:32 pm
@CharlesM-324:
Hi Charles, vibe looked great, you must be happy as well
Chiefs are awesome, to get 2 bonus points after traveling against a very good defensive side takes some doing
9 Mar 2013, 20:33 pm
@56boks-322: “only give breakdowns of the ref and opposition”
how about Bullies, too, just for a change?
9 Mar 2013, 20:34 pm
@the curse-319: Cheers Pops. To be honest, far happier with manner in which we played than with the win as such. Last year we had many wins, many conservative and dreadful wins that left me rather disenchanted.
What I saw today, gives me hope….There IS more than penalties
(Guppies have adopted this approach now….Lambie is the new Peter Grant 
Yet, there is a deafening silence from the HG’s and BathroomFerns re: the guppies. (Yet they were rather vocal last year…)
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-323: Greetings Bakkies. You enjoying the S15?
Go the Kings!!!!! Loving this!!!!!!!!!!!! HG, Dusky, RL (fakefuckguppie) etc etc etc, the Kings haters.
9 Mar 2013, 20:35 pm
@nortierd-321: Fern is a drunk.
9 Mar 2013, 20:35 pm
Stormers sneak thriller http://t.co/8xZOJbeagF via @sharethis wonderful statement of what Sup Rugby should be about 70 pointer
9 Mar 2013, 20:38 pm
@polaris-326:
you can bet i will
@polaris-330:
hehehe
is that for me?
you know better than to ask
Bulls are upstanding christians, they ref themselves.
9 Mar 2013, 20:38 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-331: thought Jantjies did well today, created a great try for Aplon and led the team around the park well… As I said before, his preseason was disrupted completely and hadnt really had the time to spend with the team, as he plays more the natural understanding which is important between players will come..
9 Mar 2013, 20:40 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-331:
hehehe
hi Pedi,
ja, i am thank you
i didn’t watch either of these games but when i read the outcomes i couldn’t resist watching the hi-lites of the Cheetahs game and will probably do the same for the Stormers game.
9 Mar 2013, 20:41 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-334: Sure thing, no wonder the proper Bakkies had to ask for forgiveness in advance before each and every game.
Yes, it was for you, my mistake there.
9 Mar 2013, 20:46 pm
@the curse-335: I was shattered with some of the comments and insults thrown his way after the first 2 games. The kid had played ZERO rugby since last year, lost his father, and joined a new franchise.
It was always going to take him some time, under dreadful circumstances as well
I thought his distribution was pretty damn good today, and his channel was not the ‘easy to attack’ channel it was in the 1st two games, so his ‘D’ is improving, and he certainly seems to be fitting into the ‘d’ system more, whilst certainly losing none of that natural attacking instinct many saw last year.
I’m a huge Elton fan, and I reckon come end season, he might have a few more – like Skop?????
What has been freaking me out though…all these KNEE injuries. Every game delivers a serious knee injury. Frightening.
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-336: Just watch thefuckinggames Bakkies. You’re missing some really good rugby. (I don’t include the shy te the guppies are currently dishing up in that statement)
9 Mar 2013, 20:47 pm
@polaris-337:
Bakkies does the Lords bidding.
the question the opposition needs to ask is what they’ve done to invite the Lords wrath
9 Mar 2013, 20:50 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-338: he didnt have the opportunity to gain understanding with his new team, and players will always be better if they have that instinctual understanding that comes with regular game time with each other..
I hope he keeps improving…
9 Mar 2013, 20:53 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-338:
@the curse-340:
If he is not there to kick, why pay 2 million Rand for him for 6 months?
9 Mar 2013, 20:53 pm
Hi Pops and Nortie, I don’t know what the commentators said but it was quite windy. Joe P kicked really well in the wind – was really gusty.
Joe made one huge mistake – that one knock after the kick-off.
it was nice to be at Newlands for a change yes and the vibe was great!
Our lineouts were good but the vital one lost with about 3 minutes to go, nearly cost the Stormers the match.
9 Mar 2013, 20:54 pm
@the curse-340: Today he and Groom looked a lot more comfy with each other….and his forwards did their job today, which made his job easier. He definitely looked more at ‘home’.
I’ve got the Blues by 28 on Bru
No jokes…………..
9 Mar 2013, 20:56 pm
@mark_keohane Stormers sneak thriller http://t.co/QEK45t0EFv via @sharethis wonderful statement of what Sup Rugby should be about 70 pointer
9 Mar 2013, 20:59 pm
@nortierd-341: I think he will kick again. I reckon they are just allowing him a few games now to find his mojo without that pressure. (which they should have done from the get go – game 1)
9 Mar 2013, 21:02 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-344:
If Joe is kicking at 80 to 90 % why give Jantjies the ball to kick?
Just saying, it looks like fruitless expenditure considering the ones we lost permanently for one short term buy
9 Mar 2013, 21:04 pm
@i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-339: The obvious reason is 5 points bagged. That certainly gonna make Blue Lord angry.
9 Mar 2013, 21:33 pm
Good win.
Skop, Jantjies does belong at the Stormers and he will be the spark we have been searching for all these years.
Help him, help you, with positive thoughts and energy.
9 Mar 2013, 21:36 pm
Stormers didn’t put this game away like they should have.. Still lack that final killer instinct and the patience to be able to take the game by the throat and finish it off.. How many more missed chances in the opposition end zone we going to keep giving away when the cherry on the icing is waiting to get eaten.?
Too many wrong options in the final analysis of the finishing touches… better performance today by all and sundry and at least about 200% better outing by Jantjies.. still too many half chance pop kicks going nowhere compared to Cruden who makes some real magic with some deft out of hand kicking Jantjies does some things right and some things wrong and the way the cookie crumbles depends on if the way the wind doth blow at the time of the option taking at the point of departure off the boot.
The setup worked out inside pass to Aplon for first try was a little piece of magician-ship but this was orchestrated from the coaches manual. Stormers all played far better than last two weeks but should have had a bonus point 4 try hall for all the opportunities they gave away at the point where the last phase play was not converted. I can think of around 3 or 4 try scoring opportunities that went begging
1. at end of first half De Allende and Aplon going for line on the touch line.. De Allende should have broke inside and set up another phase 2 mts out rather than a half chance pop pass to Aplon already squeezed up on the touch line.
2. Fourie 5 mts out setting up one more drive from multiple phase forward power play and drops the ball right in the end zone.
3. Kolisi driving off the back of a line out maul held up 1 mt short and forwards unable to convert to a try letting Chiefs off the hook with a penalty turnover.
Least a few more issues to resolve but still far better performance all round. A 4 Try bonus should have been in the bag after how many opportunities were lost in the strike zone.
9 Mar 2013, 21:36 pm
@nortierd-346: I reckon Joe is going back to the bench when Taute is fit. Although….with Bryan H injured now (ligaments?) he might start on the wing? Joe P that is.
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