Stormers skipper Jean de Villiers was relieved his team ended their two-match losing streak after edging past the Chiefs on Saturday.
Last year's SA conference winners finally came good in this season's Super Rugby tournament when they scraped home with a 36-34 win over their New Zealand opponents.
After losing their first two matches of the season, the Stormers ran in three tries en route to their first victory - although uncharacteristically they conceded four tries, with the Chiefs securing a couple of bonus points.
"We were relieved after this win," said De Villiers.
"It was a massive effort by the team.
"There was a lot of pride at stake. The players were willing to play for each other, and for the team.
"The Chiefs are a great side, they're the champions and the result could easily have gone another way."
The Stormers lost Springbok wing Bryan Habana half-way through the match after he injured his left knee, but managed to shake off the setback as well as a late surge from the Chiefs to hang on for a well-earned win.
"We've played for a win since the start of the season and it's pleasing when you can turn things around," said coach Allister Coetzee.
"At the start of the day we had a few guys (Habana and Deon Fourie) down with gypo guts (gastrointestinal illness) and that was a concern. But there was a massive improvement in our execution."
Comments
malaprade says...
passtheball - if they are good at it and others can't counter it, why not use it. Not that they don't have more tricks in the arsenal. They have shown that they have. It just reeks of hypocrisy when some other teams use the same tactics no-one bats an eyelid (...see some recent games). I have come to conclusion that there is a big difference between the opinions of those who don't support the Bulls and the hard reality of the game as played by the Bulls. They have not won 3 titles by using the same tactics. To say so would be an insult to those they conquered on the way to the top. They were good in the areas that mattered when it was required. No more, no less...
Posted 22:22 11th March 2013
dylbull says...
I hope Bekker can stay injury free! He was immense!
Posted 09:51 11th March 2013
passtheball says...
Malaprade - the Bulls still have their prime tactics - rolling maul, up and under, pick and go - but I did notice more spark out wide and some invention in the backs on Saturday. Good to see. Looking forward to see what they can do in Chch against an under pressure Crusaders. Two former dominant teams not so dominant recently.
Posted 08:25 11th March 2013
malaprade says...
The stormers are not as good as their supporters would make you believe. Lowest try scores last year despite winning the CC. It's all coming apart for them now. Where is all the fast pace you would believe they have. I'll tell you were. They were playing in Auckland this weekend. The Bulls.
Posted 23:55 10th March 2013