What NICK MALLETT had to say on SuperSport about the Vodacom Super Rugby match between the Stormers and Sunwolves at Newlands on Saturday.

Stormers vs Sunwolves

‘This was an error-strewn game, but let’s give credit to the Sunwolves and their scrum. They have the Georgian hooker Jaba Bregvadze who is about 45-years-old there and he held that scrum together rather nicely until about the last quarter.

‘Obviously their tactics were to keep the score down so they kicked a lot to make sure the Stormers play from deep and that’s because most teams know South African sides don’t practice counter-attack a lot and that you’re pretty safe if you kick the ball behind them.

‘From a Stormers point of view, I don’t know why they ran on with a tee when they were eight points ahead only to go 11 ahead. Why didn’t they go for the extra try rather, which would have given them a bonus point. That extra point could prove crucial in the final countdown.

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‘The accuracy just wasn’t there for the Stormers. At times even the Sunwolves showed they were able to win quick ball as was evident in their last try when they turned the ball over quickly. The Stormers were laboured. There were just too many passes that didn’t go to hand and too many knock-ons.

‘The game was littered with Stormers mistakes. And it was basically the big guys, the forwards who’s body positioning, timing of their runs and especially their understanding of when to offload were just not good. Unfortunately, the Stormers have a lot to work on to improve. It was a shocking first half and I’m being kind to the Stormers when I say I hope it’s only because of all the new players they had in the team.

‘A few people were surprised when I previously said Herschel Jantjies is very good defensively, but I like being proven right. He made an excellent hit on Gerhard van den Heever who weighs close to 100kgs. He made a front on tackle on Van den Heever, picked him and put him down carefully because he was even worried about hurting the big guy. It was just a really good piece of defence from the little scrumhalf. And that is why I’m positive about this guy’s future, he is not just good with quick hands and quick service at the rucks, he is also very, very good defensively.’

Highlights: Stormers vs Sunwolves

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images