An inspired forward performance set the platform for the DHL Stormers’ 37-24 win against the Bulls at Newlands on Saturday. JON CARDINELLI reports.
On Saturday, the Stormers manhandled their opponents at the set pieces and collisions. They kicked into space and took their scoring chances to finish the game with five tries.
The Stormers will finish the round at the top of the Africa 1 conference and South African Group logs. The Bulls will the limp into the next round, knowing that they have much to improve up front – and at No 10.
The Stormers scrumming effort was nothing short of magnificent. The Bulls pack was shunted back time and again. Tighthead Trevor Nyakane was hammered into submission by JC Janse van Rensburg.
The Stormers forwards got in the faces of their Bulls counterparts. Eben Etzebeth was at his abrasive best, while Pieter-Steph du Toit disrupted the visitors’ lineout and made good ground when asked to carry in midfield.
Captain Siya Kolisi and inside centre Damian de Allende were but two others who enjoyed strong games at the collisions, an area of the game that was always going to influence the flow of this particular derby.
Rudy Paige and Handré Pollard were forced on to the back foot and made some shocking decisions and passes as a result. Pollard was slow to react to the pressure applied by the Stormers defence. His kicking out of hand was poor and the accuracy of his passing only increased the pressure on his team-mates.
The Stormers capitalised on the Bulls’ mistakes. The hosts scored three tries in the first 40 minutes and went to the break with a commanding 24-0 lead.
The Bulls hit back in the second stanza. While a comeback was unlikely, the visitors endeavoured to chip away at the deficit.
Hanro Liebenberg and Pierre Schoeman scored tries, to leave the visitors trailing by 29-12 as the game moved into the fourth quarter. While the Bulls weren’t quite back in the contest, they were within sight of denying their Africa 1 opponents a try-scoring bonus point.
Jean-Luc du Plessis kicked a penalty in the 61st minute to stretch the hosts’ lead to 20 points. This course of action indicated that the Stormers wanted to make absolutely sure of the result before pushing for the bonus point.
Liebenberg scored his second try of the evening to extend the Bulls’ tally to three. Pollard, however, continued to struggle in front of goal. Had Pollard completed that conversion, the Bulls would have been 13 points behind the Stormers.
Dillyn Leyds put the result beyond doubt when he scored in the left-hand corner in the 67th minute. The Bulls had the final say, though, with Piet van Zyl scoring right on full-time.
Stormers – Tries: SP Marais, Cheslin Kolbe, Nizaam Carr, Siya Kolisi, Dillyn Leyds. Conversions: Jean-Luc du Plessis (3). Penalties: Du Plessis (2).
Bulls – Tries: Hanro Liebenberg (2), Pierre Schoeman, Piet van Zyl. Conversion: Pollard, Tian Schoeman.
Stormers – 15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Frans Malberbe, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 21 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 22 Dan Kriel, 23 Rob du Preez.
Bulls – 15 Jesse Kriel, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Travis Ismaiel, 10 Handré Pollard (c), 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Nick de Jager, 5 RG Snyman, 4 Lood de Jager, 3 Trevor Nyakane , 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlelle, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Lizo Gqoboka, 19 Jason Jenkins, 20 Ruan Steenkamp, 21 Piet van Zyl, 22 Tian Schoeman, 23 Warrick Gelant.
Photo: Thinus Maritz/Gallo Images
