Stormers fire then fade
13 Feb 2010
A powerful first-half performance set the platform for the Stormers’ 26-13 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.
The visitors scored all of their points before the break, and at that point, it seemed the Stormers would leave with the rarest of rewards: five log points away from home.
They had the lion’s share of both possession and territory in the first half, and although they botched a few early opportunities, their two tries arrived in such an emphatic manner that a four-try bonus seemed a formality. Unfortunately, the Lions switched from Hyde to Jekyll in the second period, lifting the tempo when they received more ball. You could accuse the Stormers of being more complacent, but the truth is the Lions were twice as dangerous in the second half.
Pietersen kicked four penalties to lay the platform the visitors, but the Stormers took 35 minutes before breaching the defence for their first try. Juan de Jongh spun a lovely pass to put Bryan Habana through a hole, and the Springbok winger then gifted the final pass to Pietersen. It looked to be a telling blow right before half-time, but the bad news for the Lions was that the Stormers were only just getting started.
The forwards started to hit their straps with the ball recycled swiftly at ruck time. A sustained build up ultimately ended with Jaque Fourie rounding the posts to the dismay of his former home crowd. Both Fourie and Habana proved their worth in this fixture, and the encouraging thing for the Stormers is the Bok pair do have that extra gear for the bigger occasion.
The Lions won a few penalties early in the second stanza and opted to drive for the Stormers’ line. The visitors repelled a determined surge, captain Schalk Burger and Andries Bekker responsible for a try-saving tackle apiece. All the pressure amounted to nought as Fourie smashed the final surge back to earn his side a turnover.
Carlos Spencer battled to put his unique stamp of proceedings, but you could hardly blame him given the dearth of possession on offer in early stages. The handling of the hosts was poor, and the air of desperation that characterised the 2009 campaign was prominent and certainly cost the Lions at crucial moments.
Reserve back Michael Killian brought the game to life when he cruised through the Stormers’ defence in the 63rd minute. The Lions started to come into their own as the play grew looser in the final quarter, but again poor handling culled many promising movements.
The scoreline will suggest the Stormers took their foot off the pedal in the second stanza, but credit must go to the Lions for their lift in intensity and tempo. Pietersen also had a chance to put the game out of reach, but missed two penalties in quick succession. In the big matches, this could be the difference between a win and a loss.
The Stormers fullback did rack up 21 of his side’s points and was a threat whenever he joined the line. Although Habana and Fourie added a touch of class, plaudits should go to Peter Grant, Gio Aplon and De Jongh for their all-round efforts. Scrumhalf Dewald Duvenage was also a key man with his boot spearheading the much-publicised kick-chase.
There’s plenty to think about following the first game of the season. The Stormers will hope to improve on their execution, as some poor decision-making and knock-ons in contact cost them possession early on. They also need to put teams like the Lions away when they have the chance, as they will know one log point could be the difference between play-off qualification and oblivion. If you’re not in the top four by the end of the round robin, you might as well be last.
The Cape side play the Waratahs at Newlands week and will fancy their chances. If they can maintain the standard seen in the first 40 minutes at Ellis Park, they will be strong favourites to down the Sydney-siders.
By Jon Cardinelli
177 Comments
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13 Feb 2010, 19:47 pm
Am i missing something? Was it just in HD that the Stormers “rook’ed” the lions 26 – 6 @ half time? lions julle is maar met min tevrede!
13 Feb 2010, 19:48 pm
Come on guys, give RL a break. All he is doing is to look at the positives they can take forward from this game, the way I read him.
What positives are there for us Stormer fans besides the win?
13 Feb 2010, 19:48 pm
@Cide: I have to look at the Lions … I mean JC is only looking at the WP. The WP will have to improve big time because the they will no longer encounter rusty teams from next week onwards. The WP backs were good but they are missing something up front … I think Fodse was missed big time … that de Kok guy did nothing.
@nama1: Coetzee was lively compared to JP and I think he just earned hinself a starting jersey.
13 Feb 2010, 19:48 pm
So far so good, I got already 6 out of 7 right, the Sharks might surprise me though
Read below my prediction from Thu, the RESULTS in brackets:
6. Hondo :
February 11th, 2010 at 8:08 pm
Blues- Hurricanes – Canes by 7. RESULT: Canes 34: Blues 20
Forces- Brumbies: Brumbies by 5. RESULT: Brumbies 24-Forces 15
Cheetahs – Bulls: Bulls by 13+ (RESULT: Bulls 51-Cheetahs 34) Only the margin is in question
Saders – Highlanders: (RESULT: Saders 31- Highlanders 17) Saders by 20+ a bunker
Reds – Warathahs: Warathas by 10 (RESULT: Tah 20-Reds 18) Reds are not as bad as the portrayed
Lions – Stormers: Stormers by 12+ (RESULT: Stormer 26-Lions 13) Lions a write off before it started
Sharks – Chiefs: Chiefs by 7 hot weather will restrict the Chiefs
13 Feb 2010, 19:48 pm
Cide don’t let grant10 see you talking about peter grant that way. Although i must say my perception about of the bloggers has changed dramatically. Any blogger who rather talks about his team’s own flaws and applauds the opposition has my vote
13 Feb 2010, 19:53 pm
Stormers were not good enough today. Cheetahs , Reds , Highlanders , anyone could have beaten that Lions side.
Still a long way to go , but its nice to start with a win
13 Feb 2010, 19:56 pm
@Cide:
Agree, PG should never play at 10 for Stormers – he just does not have it in him to take control and dominate a match – against stronger opposition it will be fatal.
They also need a decent tight lock (Fondse) while the lack of a linking loosie (like Watson) is also a problem.
Another concern is the throwing into the lineouts by the reserve hooker Fourie – it is so bad that it nearly guarantees the opposition a line out steal every time he throws in.
13 Feb 2010, 19:56 pm
@wp_boytjie:
Agree. An away win at that.
13 Feb 2010, 19:59 pm
When a good 9/10/12 passes to the backs, they always pass with accuracy and force. Have a look at grant though, he passes like his arms are a sling. So the ball comes in at a sharper angle to the people on his outside, and not flat.
I think thats why de Jongh is having some trouble, although he did work hard tonight.
Anybody but Grant at 10, even Ricky will do.
13 Feb 2010, 20:03 pm
@Cide: lol even Ricky will do, naaaa play Pietersen at 10, good step, quick hands and nippy then play the big kicking Lionel Cronje at 15 … this will scare teams.
13 Feb 2010, 20:03 pm
I didn’t watch, a Super14 Team that consistantly selected a creep such as Rose is not worth my time, so I can’t comment on the Stormers’ performance.
I advised the Stormers not to go the chest pumping self exciting ritual about beating the Lions, better adapt to the Bulls’ business like undertoned approach , respectability starts right there.
If De Waal is fit next week, the Stormers’ selectors will be under pressure to keep De Jongh and to bring January back, we shall see.
13 Feb 2010, 20:06 pm
@nama1:
#102
Who is RL?
13 Feb 2010, 20:08 pm
@Robzim:
#107
Did they play Anton Van Zyl?
13 Feb 2010, 20:08 pm
So far we have identified three problem areas (thanks Robzim & Cide).
A tight lock, a linking loosie and a flyhalf who can ignite our potent back line. Do we have any people in our squad who can fill these positions?
13 Feb 2010, 20:09 pm
@RedLion: de Jongh and Pietersen 10 / 12.
That’s an easy channel to attack. I’d say
10 de Waal, or Cronje if de Waal can only pass with his feet.
11 Habananana
12 Grant ( don’t worry de Waal will throw the ball over his head)
13 Fourie / de Jongh
14 Aplon / de Jongh
15 Pietersen
13 Feb 2010, 20:10 pm
@Hondo:
RedLion
13 Feb 2010, 20:14 pm
@Hondo: yip and he too was useless, just like de Kok.
13 Feb 2010, 20:17 pm
@nama1: Bekker hangs out in the backline enough to be considered the linking loose forwad haha.
Fondse will be back in the next 2/3 weeks. Van Zyl should be starting the next match.
The Sharks have Monty Dumond , the Cheetahs have Naas Olivier and the Lions had to import a flyhalf. Grant is not 5 star package but in comparison to the other SA teams(except Bulls)he’s actually quite allrite. Cronje is too young and inexpierienced to start he has to be phased in slowly. Pieterson is not a flyhalf option , he needs space to be at his best , Like Frans Steyn he is best hanging out at the back
13 Feb 2010, 20:20 pm
I want to see a flyhalf do some cross kicks to Habana. That will never happen with Grant at 10.
13 Feb 2010, 20:25 pm
@nama1:
#114
Anton v.Z is better than Fondse at 4, he is stronger and heavier, he has a brain on him too(Oxford)
Vermulen isn’t the loose FWD he was at Bloem, that was my impression from last year CC and he’s the one who should have fit the bill at #8.
Grant was mad not to take the offer from the Forces 2 years ago, he will never make it at the Stormers because of the pressure to field backs of colour, indeed he is better at 12 but with a decent No.9 he is more than adequate at #10, when January will be back (eventually), Grant is done at WP
13 Feb 2010, 20:27 pm
@RedLion:
#117
Hmmmm,
Anton was their best Forward in 2009 S14 season, interesting
13 Feb 2010, 20:28 pm
@Hondo:
I meant the Lions’ best forward in 2009 S14 Campaign,
13 Feb 2010, 20:32 pm
@Hondo: at lineout time he was mostly dominated … Fondse is a better lineout player, taller, more physical and heavier than Van Zyl who is similar in stature to Burger and Vermeulen … but you have to watch him to make up your conclusions.
13 Feb 2010, 20:33 pm
@wp_boytjie:
#118
I am glad to see someone sees it the same as I do!
But don’t kid yourself, January will be back by hook or by crook soon, and then what?
January already made De Waal and Grant look worse than Lance Sherrell, which was unthinkable at the time.
13 Feb 2010, 20:36 pm
@RedLion:
Next week I’ll watch but Anton got a lot of praises from the Aussis and the NZ Commentators.
Fondse is injuries prone, I wouldn’t hold my breath on his return!
13 Feb 2010, 20:49 pm
Happy Valentines Day!
13 Feb 2010, 21:05 pm
Wasn’t impressed, really. Too much rubbish still hanging on in the team. Wayne Julies version 2 is getting in the way of Habana and Jaque.
Bekker thinks he’s a wing, someone should stomp on his knees so he becomes slower, then maybe he’ll decide to hit the rucks.
Burger, man possessed.
13 Feb 2010, 21:14 pm
@Kobus Kitty: Sour grapes?
13 Feb 2010, 21:16 pm
@Windhoek.Lager:
Why?
13 Feb 2010, 21:18 pm
@Kobus Kitty: now that would be a very stupid idea
imagine… the longest legs, being chopped down for being too fast. it doesn’t matter who score the tries, as long as they get scored
13 Feb 2010, 21:18 pm
@Cide:
Grant can’t kick that far.
13 Feb 2010, 21:22 pm
@SpringbokSarah:
They weren’t being scored because every time the ball went out wide BEKKER would be there to make sure all momentum is stopped.
I was expecting more from the Stormers. Seems like they haven’t developed the Blue Bull instinct yet, even with their two world class imports.
13 Feb 2010, 21:29 pm
@Kobus Kitty: You know how many metres Bekker gained?
Tries weren’t being scored due to knock-on’s… good grief was our handling bad! But I hope that will clear up with more game time… also the altitude seemed to get them… but they want to go up the day before!
one of those imports happens to be a Bull
13 Feb 2010, 21:36 pm
Kobus, they won. Deal with it.
13 Feb 2010, 21:43 pm
Whoop,whoop…bring on da ‘Tahs…!!
13 Feb 2010, 21:51 pm
@SpringbokSarah: bokSarah, congratulations on your teams victory … they may have the match but the Lions won the fight, yip there is many a bruised WPian sleeping in their bath tubs filled with ice
13 Feb 2010, 21:55 pm
burger is a penalty machine. playing on reputation. starting to think he is totally over-rated.
de jong is all class!!!
am no stormer supporter – but play mr lionel cronje and your super backline will get bored of scoring tries. play de waal if you DONT wan’t your outside backs to get the ball. Play Bash if you want burger and co to run off the 10 channel all day long. Play the super talented cronje, he will make some mistakes, but he will grow in that pos and you will see fourie and habanananana running free.
not impressed by the lions one bit. showed that **** “****” Muir is NOT the great coach everybody thought he was. He is panicky. Got a “wiff” of that in uncle john smit’s book, and saw it today first hand. Lions won’t win much this year.
my poor cheetahs……..ai ai ai. Like my good mate says: the centers looked like balls in ‘n pinball machine. Bouncing off tackles. There are awesome youngsters like philip snyman and the young shimla captain wayne stevens who will tackle anything that moves. Get rid of the “reputations” (not that bosman and uys ever deserved any reputations except kak reputations). and mr Verster, what the F is up with that KAK ugly jersey!!!! Why do we have to see the poublou and purple-people-eater colors in that thing. ever heard of marketing your team you old **** verster??????? Second year running we will get the “ugliest” jumper award from the commentators. Not even laerskool Bloem will look good in that kots-ugly rubbish.
anyway – happy the those whiney irish got there …… handed to them
13 Feb 2010, 22:03 pm
@Slappes:
@RedLion: hey thanks man, Lions actually played well… never gave up (the buggers
) sorry Jaque had to be the one to score…
14 Feb 2010, 00:17 am
Interesting game.
Contrary to belief, **** used this game as trials. Wanted to see what he has in a game.
Expect a couple of changes next week against the Chiefs.
Two things are for certain….
1) The Lions onluy tested and tried.
2) Mossie is the biggest *** I have ever seen.
Lions will starts targeting wins when they return.
Sat in a suite with the best Lions backline…
Venter, Hollenbach en Noble.
**** is using the first couple of games as trials. Not too bad.
14 Feb 2010, 00:34 am
@WilladieLeeu:
I bet you never thought Mossie is a big *** when he still played for the Lions.
Sour grapes?
14 Feb 2010, 00:37 am
@Robzim:
Not sour grapes.
He’s a doos.
Refused to come out with the players to sign autographs.
14 Feb 2010, 00:43 am
@WilladieLeeu:
I was not there and has never met Fourie (so I cannot really comment)but from what I heard he is quite friendly with the fans in CT and a likeable fellow.
Maybe there was a reason that he did not come out to sign autographs?
14 Feb 2010, 00:46 am
@Robzim:
Ya, ’cause he is a doos.
14 Feb 2010, 00:49 am
@WilladieLeeu:
If it makes you happy.
14 Feb 2010, 00:50 am
@Robzim: Robbie I am pleased that I am still totally crushing you on SuperBru.
14 Feb 2010, 00:51 am
@Robzim:
It doesn’t.
Had a good evening with some of the Lions players, he doesn’t even take their calls.
14 Feb 2010, 00:53 am
@SodaJoe:
Hey Joe,
Not again??!!
I missed out on the Blues and Sharks – had the Stormers by 14.
What do you think of your team’s performance?
14 Feb 2010, 00:53 am
@WilladieLeeu: willa – we looked ok in second half. But not exactly world beaters. Scrum looked good, locks “ok”, loosies were “ok”. Carlos looked good, wasn’t quite sure why he didn’t come back out.
Earl played well. Obvioulsy defensively frail, but he takes a gap like few can (I am worried about him under the high ball – he has overcome the fear and catches it, but perhaps lacks strength to hold on inthe ensuing maul and we lose it).
Doppies had a great game today. I thought Clever was also good.
Vermulen was outstanding today for me.
14 Feb 2010, 00:55 am
@Robzim: We are tied in the lofty position of 67.
14 Feb 2010, 00:56 am
@WilladieLeeu: Willa. Let it go. He was very loyal for a long time.
He was not very present today any way, despite the try.
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