Stormers hang on for valuable win
The Round 14 win in a physical, at times even brutal, Super Rugby match saw the Stormers reclaim first place in the Africa One conference – even it is just for a couple of hours.
They outscored the Cheetahs by three tries to two, but had to hang on as the men from Bloemfontein produced a desperate, late charge.
The opening exchanges were very tense as both teams came within inches of scoring the opening try, but instead the two flyhalves exchanged penalties to leave it at 3-3 after the first 10 minutes.
The next 10 minutes saw much the same as both flyhalves were on target with penalties to make it 6-6 after 20 minutes.
That same pattern followed, as first Fred Zeilinga and then Jean-Luc du Plessis slotted penalties to leave it deadlocked at 9-9 after 30 minutes.
After an extended period of attacking pressure in the Cheetahs 22, the ball was eventually worked wide to outside centre Daniel du Plessis who got over for a try on his Stormers debut to put the home side 14-9 ahead at the half-time break.
The Stormers were first to strike in the second half as an intercept try from speedster Leolin Zas gave them a 21-9 cushion.
The Cheetahs responded with their first try from No.8 Paul Schoeman to cut the deficit to 21-14 with 30 minutes left to play.
The Stormers camped in the opposition 22 and were next to score when Du Plessis slotted his fourth penalty after to make it 24-14.
The visitors scored against the run of play when a counter-attack saw wing Sergeal Petersen go over in the corner, and the conversion from Zeilinga brought them right back into the game at 24-21.
However, the Stormers hit back in fine style when Sikhumbuzo Notshe found himself in some space and kicked ahead for Kobus van Wyk who outstripped the defence to score a memorable try between the poles.
The Cheetahs responded with a penalty from replacement flyhalf Niel Marais which secured the losing bonus point, but they were not able to prevent the Stormers from picking up their seventh win of the Vodacom Super Rugby season. The Stormers returned to winning ways with a 31-24 victory against the Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.
Man of the match: Clayton Blommetjies sent Springbok coach Allister Coetzee yet another reminder of his capabilities, while Lodewyk de Jager seemed to relish his physical, almost brutal, duel with Bok teammate Eben Etzebeth. Siya Kolisi was a constant presence at the breakdown and had a couple of decent carries, Etzebeth shaded his duel with De Jager and Pieter-Steph du Toit can measure his Springbok blazer size. Our award goes to Stormers No.8 Sikumbuzo Notshe, a performance that also had Springbok written all over it.
The scorers:
For the Stormers:
Tries: D du Plessis, Zas, Van Wyk
Cons: JL du Plessis 2
Pens: JL du Plessis 4
For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Schoeman, Petersen
Con: Zeilinga
Pens: Zeilinga 3, Marais'
Teams:
Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Daniel du Plessis, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe (captain), 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Rynhardt Elstadt, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Johnny Kotze.
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Francois Uys, 4 Lodewyk de Jager, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Retshegofaditswe Nche, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Armandt Koster, 20 Niell Jordaan, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Niel Marais, 23 Nico Lee.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
