Super XV Big Match Review - Stormers 36 - 34 Chiefs

I made a critical error the week before last – and I hold my hands up to it.  I picked, as my game of the week, a match between the Sharks and the Stormers, and it led to me writing about an 80 minute feast of knock-ons and penalties which, I’m sure, was as boring for you to read as it was me to write.  And as it was for us to watch.  I tried to console myself with the knowledge that I can only work with the material that I’m given but I realised that there was still a slight issue with that theory – I picked the material.  You’d think I would learn from that and not pick a team like the Stormers again, a team that has had a superbly disciplined defence but struggles to get over the whitewash themselves; it’s a recipe for an absolute snoozefest.  Luckily, I’m a bit slow and I did pick them again, this time playing at home against the Chiefs.  And I’m rather smug to say that, this time, I picked a cracker.

The Chiefs went into this game with 2 bonus point wins from 2 games under their belt, and an irresistible-looking attack that could carve open any defence – but how would it fare against the stubborn Stormers? 

The teams ran out to some thunderous fireworks at Newlands, but all the on-pitch explosiveness was happening in the Stormers’ pack.  A maul from a lineout – which was to become a dominant area for the South African side – smashed the Chiefs’ pack back 20 metres in a sight which is seen all too rarely these days due to the ridiculous laws on mauls going to ground.  The resulting penalty was converted by Joe Pietersen, before Andries Bekker took a few large steps into the Chiefs 22 in centrefield.  Following that significant indentation, Siya Kolisi and Duane Vermeulan carried strongly before right wing Gio Aplon picked a beautiful line of fly half Elton Jantjies to go over, and there was a feeling that a special game might be on the cards.

Pietersen and Chiefs fullback Gareth Anscombe then exchanged penalties before fly half Aaron Cruden threaded through an inch-perfect grubber for centre Charlie Ngatai to dive on to, with Cruden’s conversion bringing the visitors to within 3 points.  The Stormers’ pack was still rumbling, however and they earned 2 more penalties for Pietersen to slot, with the second resulting in a yellow card for Chiefs’ scrum half Tawera Kirk-Barlow following another barnstorming Bekker burst up the field.  The visitors made light work of being a man down however, with another Cruden kick through being superbly gathered by the rapid Tim Nanai-Williams, who touched down near the posts.  Straight from receiving the restart, however, Cruden went from hero to zero after bizarrely trying his grubber kick trick once again – this time on his own 22.  You know what they say – to kick through for a try once is great, twice is genius, but three times is taking the p*ss.  The Stormers agreed with this made-up proverb and blocked the kick to give Aplon the chance to chase and dive on the loose ball for his second score, handing a 9 point lead to the hosts on the cusp of halftime.

The  Chiefs got off to a positive start following the break, with Anscombe nudging over another penalty, but it was the hosts who looked like they had effectively sealed the game following a third try – this time through scrum half Nic Groom, who wormed his way over from close range following yet another charge from Bekker.  13 points ahead, and with a great defence – surely it must have been game over?  Not quite.  The Chiefs came roaring back with 2 scores – sandwiching another Pietersen penalty – to seal a try bonus point.  Firstly, Nanai-Williams and Anscombe combined beautifully to send Ngatai over for his second, before slick handling put substitute Andrew Horrell over in the corner, with Anscombe superbly converting both to set up a grandstand final 10 minutes, with the score 36-34 in favour of the Stormers.  The visitors searched and searched but ultimately came up short as Cruden was turned over, but it couldn’t detract from an enthralling came played with pace, power and precision from both sides.

The Stormers are back on track.  And, more importantly, so is my big match selection.

 

What else was occurring around the Southern Hemisphere last weekend?

Rebels 13 – 23 Reds: The Reds stuttered past their hosts in Melbourne with another unconvincing performance.  A late penalty from James O’Connor was the difference in a first half where Lachlan Mitchell and Ben Tapuai both scored tries, but the visitors held the Rebels scoreless in the second half, running in another try themselves early on in the second period through Nick Frisby to help themselves to a win.

Hurricanes 29 – 28 Crusaders:  The Hurricanes compounded the Crusaders’ early season woes with a thrilling win in Wellington.  The hosts were outscored by 4 tries to 2, as Ryan Crotty, Corey Flynn, Israel Dagg and Dan Carter all went over for the visitors, but the hosts sneaked it through scores from the awesome Julian Savea and a late effort from Alapati Leiua, with a significant contribution off the boot from Beauden Barrett.

Highlanders 19 – 36 Cheetahs:  The Highlanders discipline let them down as they were surprisingly turned over by an aggressive and clinical Cheetahs side, who dismantled them in the first half.  Despite a hat-trick from winger Kade Poki, the New Zealand outfit were outdone by scores from Sarel Pretorius (2) and Robert Ebersohn, with Johan Goosen doing the rest of the damage with the boot.

Brumbies 35 – 6 Waratahs:  The Waratahs were given a stern reality check by the increasingly impressive Brumbies after they were hammered in Canberra.  The ACT side scored a try bonus point through scores from Ben Mowan, Christian Lealiifano, Henry Speight and Robbie Coleman, with the blues only managing 2 lonely penalty kicks from Brendan McKibbin.

Kings 12 – 21 Sharks:  It was another Sharks snooze-fest as the Kings stubbornly went down at home.  All the points came from the boot as Pat Lambie scored 6 penalties and a drop goal for the hotly-tipped Sharks, with Demetri Catrakilis nudging over four 3-pointers for the hosts.

Blues 21 – 28 Bulls:  The Bulls held off a Blues fightback as they won an entertaining battle in Auckland.  The hosts scored two tries through Charles Piutau and Rene Ranger, but the South African side had the edge through scores from Lionel Mapoe, Akona Ndungane and Arno Botha.