Peter Grant: 18 points
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The Stormers confirmed their Super Rugby title credentials on Friday with a convincing 23-13 victory over the Reds at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The result sees the Stormers provisionally return to the top of the overall standings as they bounced back from the only defeat of their campaign so far, against the Crusaders last week.
The South African side led from start to finish after racing away to a 17-3 lead at half-time thanks to tries from wing Gio Aplon and fly-half Peter Grant, who scored 18 points.
The Reds came back strongly in the second period though and clawed their way back into contention thanks to a try from skipper James Horwill.
But it proved too little too late and the defending champions were left empty handed when Grant landed a late penalty to deny the hosts a losing bonus point.
To make matters worse, the curse of the Reds number ten jersey struck again as Cape Town-educated Sam Lane was forced off the field early on with a serious knee injury.
Although the result does not come as a surprise, the Stormers once again impressed with their near-impenetrable defence and physicality at the breakdown.
The visitors cruised into a ten-point lead after as many minutes when Aplon waltzed over at the end of flowing move.
Grant extended the lead to 17-3 just before half-time after Juan de Jongh started a counter attack from his own goal line which ended with the fly-half beating a handful of defenders to sneak over, capping a wonderful 100m team effort.
Horwill crashed over on the hour mark after a malfunction at a Stormers line-out, but the home side never realistically threatened to snatch victory.
The scorers:
For Reds:
Try: Horwill
Con: Harris
Pens: Lucas, Harris
For Stormers:
Tries: Aplon, Grant
Cons: Grant 2
Pens: Grant 3
Reds: 15 Luke Morahan, 14 Rod Davies, 13 Ben Tapuai, 12 Mike Harris, 11 Dom Shipperley, 10 Sam Lane, 9 Will Genia, 8 Radike Samo, 7 Beau Robinson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Rob Simmons, 3 James Slipper, 2 James Hanson, 1 Ben Daley.
Replacements: 16 Albert Anae, 17 Greg Holmes, 18 Van Humphries, 19 Jake Schatz, 20 Liam Gill, 21 Ben Lucas, 22 Nick Frisby.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Bryan Habana, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen (capt), 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Nick Koster, 19 Nizaam Carr, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 JP du Plessis.
Referee: Steve Walsh
Comments
peewee2 says...
@ Trader
My further contribution to this discussion is...............
If this aforementioned approach to team selection was adjudicated under world horse racing rules the stewards would ban SA Rugby for a very long time.
Posted 14:09 24th April 2012
peewee2 says...
@Trader says
"outside Queensland the rest of the rugby world could see the bigger picture"
I do not agree.
Only South Africa and New Zealand withheld players from competitions prior to the World Cup and did not select their best teams. Hardly the rest of the world. And let's look at the results; NZ played well and deserved to win whereas SA underperformed and lost badly. These results do not justify the method of preparation.
This approach of not picking the best team was most seriously demonstrated when SA sent over a second string side for the 2011 Tri-Nations series in Australasia after Super XV.
This pathetic way of playing the game is not acceptable in rugby .......... ..............................................................................it ain't sport, mate!
And, unfortunately South Africa does it more often than most other teams. I am certain that Australians would not even consider this approach to sport in general and rugby in particular.
Now Trader, this is not a personal attack on you, but a plea for you as a rugby supporter and probably part of the rank and file of SA rugby, to convince your rugby mates to change the attitude of SA rugby management and "play the game" as it should be played.
Good luck and king regards.
Posted 13:44 24th April 2012
peewee2 says...
@Trader
You appear to have forgotten that the 2011 Super XV champions beat full strength teams from Canterbury and Auckland in the finals.
Posted 12:52 23rd April 2012
jonesy2 says...
Trader -- saffas were focussing on the world cup ay? how did that work out?
Posted 08:56 23rd April 2012
hybrid187 says...
Worst defending "Champs" in SuperRugby history.
My god they were lucky the schedule fell gloriously into place for them last season. Cant wait to see the Saders stuff these pretenders and make up for last season when their closest competition didn't even have a single home game.
Hell, if the Mighty Western Force can stuff 40+ points into them, then who cant ??
Posted 18:58 21st April 2012
Ramage says...
@Trader I thought Walsh had a good game.His poor game was the week before when he refereed the Blues and Sharks when too many tries were given despite the mistakes leading up to them.
Posted 15:25 21st April 2012
peewee2 says...
Trader says about the Reds:
"the default championship they got last year".
How do you justify this statement?
Methinks, sour grapes and a short rugby memory and intellect.
Posted 15:10 21st April 2012
rangdaddy says...
Stormers are the real deal! If they don't make the final it would be a surprise. Reds playing poorly due to unsettled team selections - injuries to key players and they seem to have lost their mojo. I'm a Chiefs supporter and it will be interesting to see how these teams match up when they meet!
Posted 22:01 20th April 2012
Kappelange says...
the stormers from 4 or 5 years back would have ripped this reds side apart...i cant believe how bad they are with ball in hand.
Francois van der Merwe where are you?
That Elstadt needs to pass the friggin ball
Posted 16:13 20th April 2012
JayStarr says...
Btw - when I say "weak" teams, etc. I am saying it meaning the Reds are absolutely decimated by injuries at the moment... Not that the Reds are a weak team in general - they're a quality side when at full strength. But as much as I hate to say it, if that was the Bulls or Crusaders out there today playing the Reds, they would've destroyed them...
That is why I am upset. Until the Stormers get that mentality and ability with ball in hand, they won't win the competition. And I want them to.
Posted 16:00 20th April 2012
Herbman says...
@JayStarr got up on the wrong side of bed this morning? I thought it was a fantastic performance, especially on tour. MUCH better than last week against the Crusaders. Reds defense was much better in the second half, credit.
Posted 15:44 20th April 2012
JayStarr says...
Dominate? That was the worst performance I have seen from the Stormers in a VERY long time... They were PATHETIC with ball in hand! Their kicking game was a joke, they almost NEVER offloaded in the tackle - meaning every person ran by himself, got tackled, the move ended and then usually they lost the ball... Thank goodness I recorded it so I could fast-forward through most of the last 30 minutes of mistake after mistake... The Reds were decimated by injuries - the Stormers should've SMASHED them today, but they hardly managed 2 tries!
The fact that they won this game at all just shows how bad the Reds are at the moment.
They will NOT make it to the final by playing rugby like this. They need to get a clue with ball in hand... They need to fire Robbie Fleck and get the Cheetahs backline coach. They will never win the championship if they don't get some killer instinct and learn to take weak teams apart.
Posted 14:58 20th April 2012
zambokke says...
Wow, honourable comments from the Aussie posts and no gloats from us.
Posted 14:42 20th April 2012
Ramage says...
and tweedledee49 I too must take umbrage at what you are saying as I too fail to read between the lines. Well done Stormers you deserved you win today and once again I thought your defence was as sound as ever.The way you harried the Reds and stole the ball off them on numerous occasions was outstanding. The Reds are a shadow of the team of last year. Genia is getting caught too often so does anyone else think he has slowed up and is off the pace or were the Stormers too good at reading his play?
@ Trinuts Sorry man it will only be compounded next week when your team is beaten by the bottom of the table Bloos as you predicted at the start of the season. For once I hope you are right with that prediction as not much else has been. My only wish now is, sorry Wallaroo, to see the Brumbies continue on their winning ways in the Australian conference. The thought of the Waratahs being anywhere near the finals is like the Sunday Night Horrors. By the way I see you have snared Richard Graham as your new coach. Hehehe one dimensional rugby for the Reds next Year? Did you approve the appointment man. We are all thirsting to know your thoughts.
Posted 14:34 20th April 2012
Carpelone says...
I propose to change the bet proposal from trinats. I will be satisfied with an invitation to a braai at his house. Castle, not Fosters, please. I can even bring some biltong.
Posted 12:51 20th April 2012
Ulrich says...
Awesome!
Posted 12:41 20th April 2012
tweedledee49 says...
cheating ref presented the stormers with the game on a silver platter!! lol it sounds just as stupid when you do it!
Well done Stormers and good effort by the Reds late in the game
Posted 12:35 20th April 2012