Stormers: Remain unbeaten
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The Stormers remain the only unbeaten Super Rugby side in 2012 after defeating the Highlanders 21-6 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.
It was another impressive defensive performance by the visitors who also scored two tries to earn themselves an important victory in their first match on the road that moves them back up to the top of the Super Rugby standings.
The Highlanders lost for the second time in seven games to drop back to third place on the overall table ahead of their bye week and hold second spot behind the Chiefs in the New Zealand conference.
Winger Gio Aplon and full-back Joe Pietersen scored first-half tries for the visitors, while the rest of the Stormers' points came from the boots of Pietersen and Peter Grant.
It was a clinical performance from the visitors, an intimidating effort up front well backed by intelligent kicking, incisive back play and some bruising midfield defence.
The match fell short of expectations of a top-of-the-table clash, though the Stormers put in arguably their best performance of the season with their forwards dominating their opposition pack.
In the 12th minute, captain Jean de Villiers pounced on a Highlanders fumble and toed ahead for Aplon to gather and touch down.
An end-to-end piece of brilliance just on the half-hour mark extended the Stormers' lead, as full-back Pietersen collected an ill-timed Aaron Smith chip kick and launched a counterattack which he ended 90 metres later with a try.
Their suffocating defence held the Highlanders to just two penalties through fly-half Chris Noakes, and lead 15-6 at the break.
And although the Highlanders threw everything they had at the Stormers in the second half, they just could not penetrate their rivals' watertight defensive line.
The second stanza turned into something of an arm wrestle, with two Grant penalties the only addition to the scoreboard.
The scorers:
For Highlanders
Pens: Noakes 2
For Stormers:
Tries: Aplon, Pietersen
Cons: Grant
Pens: Pietersen, Grant 2
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 James Haskell, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Ma'afu Fia, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Doug Tietjens, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Buxton Popoali'i, 22 Phil Burleigh.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean De Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Brok Harris, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Comments
Ramage says...
@ Wallaroo please accept that my family and I will be offering up a few Hailies for you loved one our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Posted 16:01 10th April 2012
carpelone says...
@ Wallaroo
All my prayers are with you and your family. We are all in God's hands.
Posted 20:53 09th April 2012
spliffed says...
Jay Starr i think you missed my point completely.. Nothing wrong with constructively critisising anyone or anything.. I like a lot of others on here am tired of seeing the same old crap about refs from various countries bias, incompetence and worst refs in the world etc as an excuse for a poor team performance .. What I am saying is people make mistakes. I very much doubt the much maligned referees panel, Sanzar, the IRB etc are not looking at refs performances. I can critisise refs till the cows come home.. wont make a difference to the final score after the fact. Look at the world cup.. I could say both Wales and South Africa went out due to poor refereeing.. Doesnt change the fact neither were good enough to win it at that time. Mistakes genearlly even out over the season.. and the best team will win,, 99% of the time.. class is class
Posted 12:41 09th April 2012
letsgoboks says...
ruckingkiwi - this year we dont have an 1diot coach running the show for the boks. Thats the big difference....
Either way. All 3 countries having competitive teams is great. The rugby on show is incredible. Thoroughly enjoying it.
Posted 09:38 09th April 2012
philipjfry says...
@Ramage: You wrote this ' It is interesting that you are using the word xenophobe against a person from a country other than your own.' No it's not. You also make the point that I must be xenophobic myself for labeling you a xenophobe. But then I have cause and apart from a few comments directed at Greg Martin and Brain Moore I have not insulted anyone on this site; you one the other hand write offensive things about 'saffas' when they disagree with your values.
Posted 08:33 09th April 2012
carpelone says...
@ Wallaroo
You are right, although some calls seem to go definetely not the Saffa's way. Must be some "bad boy" legacy. Still, I would like to give you credit for your sportmanship after the controversial QF.
Hope everything is going fine at home.
Posted 19:12 08th April 2012
Ramage says...
If you have a look at the draw you will see that the Chiefs don't play the Stormers this year. Then if you look at the points table you see the Brumbies on 19 points because they are leading the Australian conference are placed 3rd. On any normal points table the Brumbies would be placed 7th on points differential behind the Crusaders. You have to give O'Neill the thumbs up for the wonderful con job he does in selling Australian Rugby. He waltzes back int the position of CEO immediately cancels the fledgling Australian National competition because of cost and then replaces it with a Sanza financed one for the one Australia cant afford. The Super competition is not a real competition when all franchises don't play a team each from the other franchises and all this to benefit Australian rugby at the expense of SA and NZ. We are already seeing the lack of Australian referees in the Super Competition because the highest grade of rugby played below Super level is club rugby. This is hindering the development of Australian refereeing. As well, when the injuries strike the lack of depth is really showing in the OZ conference teams. O'Neill is on his way out and a major look needs to be taken to address this major anomaly that is showing up. Hope philipjfry does not think I'm being xenophobicon this issue as I have tried very hard not to be.
Posted 16:09 08th April 2012
JayStarr says...
@ genghis_j: Yes, I was a bit over-the-top on the travelling... but that was on purpose - it thought is was a great achievement. It is still a damn long way to travel and no South African team has done it and won against such good opposition - they are always too knackered. As for the flight from Auckland to Dunedin - the Stormers stayed in Queenstown... that's where they had to get the bus from. But my NZ geography is not great, so I'm not sure where that is.
Fair point about the Highlanders. But sometimes a bye can be a bad thing - especially if a team has momentum. That's what happened to them last year. So let's see if this one does them good...
I think they're a great team - and they definitely punch above their weight. But I wonder how much better they can get... And this while I look at teams like the Chiefs and Crusaders and know they are still far from their full potential...
In fact, the potential of the Chiefs scare me! If Kerr-Barlow, Cruden, SBW, Kahui, Masaga, Williams and Robinson all hit form and click as a unit... nobody will stop them.
That's my dream final - a top form Chiefs team vs. a top form Stormers team. Especially since they don't face each other in the "round robin" phase... It would be like Mayweather vs. Pacquia!
Posted 16:03 08th April 2012
JayStarr says...
@ spliffed: What you're suggesting is that people stop criticising refs. But just try for a moment imagine a world where refs are never criticised. What would that world be like? Refs can be as terrible as they want and make as many mistakes as they want and they know they won't be criticised...
Sure, you might say the refs will be policed by their bosses... but don't forget the old saying "Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?" Who watches the watchmen?
No. Rugby takes place in a free world - where freedom of speech exists. We, the fans, make rugby what it is today - without us they won't even have enough money to pay for their rugby kits - nevermind play in tournaments or get paid. We have a right to say what we like and what we don't like - and we have a right to question the standard of refereeing.
But this needs to happen in a sensible manner - you can't just say "jeez this ref sucks!" without pointing out where he made mistakes. If you want to claim that you know better than the ref, then at least be specific.
But when a ref makes blatant mistakes he SHOULD be criticised. I agree that the game has sped up and it's difficult for refs to see everything... But if they are missing things - especially multiple times throughout a match - then their bosses need to realise that the current method of refereeing is not good enough and should start thinking of ways to improve it. Whether that is by getting more touch judges, giving more powers to the TMO, using new kinds of technology, or whatever... But if we as fans don't apply the pressure by saying "this is not good enough", then nothing will happen.
So don't dream of a world free of criticism. Start looking for the difference between people being specific in their criticism - and perhaps having a point - and those idiots who clearly don't know what they're talking about... And then challenge them.
Posted 15:46 08th April 2012
Ramage says...
Having had my say about the referees situation can I say what an absorbing game this one turned out to be. The defence of the Stormers was absolutely outstanding and it meant that any attempt to the Highlanders had to get back were nullified time and again . I believe I saw some sheer brilliance in the try that Pieterson scored that was something one shares in admiration of some of the rugby players of today. The Highlanders were suffering from a lack of direction at fly half and yes rucking kiwi I too noticed the way the Stormers were falling and making sure they were on the Highlanders side too often the players had to climb in over the fallen players on the wrong side. However the Stormers deserved their win and it will be a good team that opens up this defence. I have looked very carefully at what I have written and dont think I have been xenophobic but Im sure philipjfry will have something to say about my xenophobic apartheid writing.
Posted 15:23 08th April 2012
Ramage says...
@philipjfry I gave you the benefit of the doubt because I have the timerity to criticise those saffas who week after week and make comments about cheating NZ referees and for this I am called a xenophobe. If thats what you think so be it you can go on calling me that but I will always stand up for our referees without always agreeing with their decisions. Seems you are free and easy with your racist insults and if you look very carefully at what I have said they are in reply to the insults that have been levelled at all referees who referee out teams. Apparently this small nation of 4.4 million people has such a strnglehold on world rugby all officials bow to our every wish. You know this is patently untrue and you yourself criticise Leebok, yet if I do so I am xenophobic, so by your own standards you too must be xenophobic. It is interesting that you are using the word xenophobe against a person from a country other than your own. Please just ask those of your own countrymen that make these statements about referees to look at what they are saying. yes referees make mistakes yes some are better than others but the continual carping in every game is really getting ridiculous.
Posted 15:11 08th April 2012
MacGyver says...
What a performance! I am truly proud of you. I hope the new bok coach learns from the game.
Posted 12:24 08th April 2012
spliffed says...
Good performance by the Stormers. My only concern and its a concern from last year is the lack of bonus points for tries scored. Ok I did not expect 4 tries against a quality outfit like the Highlanders or for that matter against the Crusaders (looking forward to that one) next week The only team in the ladder who has 0 bonus points.. and after 6 games. Ok before anyone mentions the obvious (losing by 7 or less) its still a worry when points are tallied at the end of the season. That home semi and final is so important. Not discounting the Crusaders but the Chiefs are looking very very good if they get their consistency right. Crusaders miss McCaw more than any other player, including super Dan.
Oh and one more thing..can we have a weekend (next) without someone bleating about the referee.. Players are going to push the letter of the law on the field.. Get used to it. its only been going on for over a 100 years. I have seen people whinging about refs from all sides over the many years i have been reading these forums. Get over it.. the result is the result.. no amount of whinging is going to change it. Yes we want fair and consistent refereeing.. Hey its their jobs,.. anyone here who can honestly say they have never made a mistake in their jobs? Under huge pressure and at a 1000km an hour? Get real!!!
Posted 12:09 08th April 2012
carpelone says...
Highlanders' donkey run has come to an end, like last year.
Posted 08:04 08th April 2012
hybrid187 says...
I though the Stormers full deserved it. Rock solid defense.
leebok, go away or something please, your boring mate.
Posted 07:26 08th April 2012
JayStarr says...
@ leebok: Just look at the comment below yours from kpe12... Don't be so negative.
@ Ramage: Are you bleating about "Saffas" bleating about refs again...? It's just as annoying.
@ Rolf: Good point about the attacking play. About the empty seats - it was like that at most games this weekend... It's Easter weekend remember!
Posted 04:04 08th April 2012
JayStarr says...
You make it sound like a boring game... Did you even watch it? Were you fully awake? This was the first instance where defense was entertaining..! It was INCREDIBLE!!
For the Stormers to play an immensely physical game like they did against the Bulls last week, before flying accross SA from Cape Town to Jo'burg, then accross the INDIAN OCEAN, accross AUSTRALIA, to Auckland.... then to wherever, before sitting on a bus for goodness knows how long - in the longest journey you can possibly take in any rugby competition in the world - to play a match against the best team in NZ... AND PLAY LIKE THIS....
Absolutely AMAZING.
The best defensive performance I have ever seen in my life. Period.
They made Adam Thompson look like the 2007 version of Lawrence Dellaglio - he was knocked back down on his *r$e every time he touched the ball!
Your claim that this game "didn't live up to expectations" can only show that you either didn't watch the game, or weren't paying attention. It was like a brilliant test match - where one team threw everything including the kitchen sink at the other team, who were just supreme on the day. It was an intense, relentless, physical arm-wrestle... And it was a joy to watch.
The refs were just terrible at times... There were at least 7 clear forward passes from the Highlanders which weren't picked up by any of them - the Highlanders clearly engaged early on at least 2 more scrums, which were ignored - and the pressure the Stormers applied in the scrums never got rewarded with a penalty... just re-sets...
Luckily they played well enough to not make it a factor. But I think SANZAR should really consider at least having a mix of nationalities in the trio of refs on the day - instead of having them all from the same (home) country.
Posted 03:57 08th April 2012
startledwombat says...
As a Highlanders supporter I was delighted at the intensity of this match.
Terrific defence by the Stormers coupled with a great ability to read the opposition's defence and their lines. The workrate of the Stormers pack is enormous.
The ability of the Stormers to score off scraps of ball reminded me of another team, based just up the coast from Dunedin...
Well played both teams and a deserved win to the men from Cape Town. It looks like the question is, who will meet them in the finals?
Posted 03:27 08th April 2012
KiwiLad says...
Very impressive display from the Stormers.
Posted 23:08 07th April 2012
philipjfry says...
@Ramage: You are xenophobic. Watch out, there is a bottle throwing South African behind you.
Posted 18:01 07th April 2012