Stormers: Remain unbeaten
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The Stormers remain the only unbeaten Super Rugby side in 2012 after defeating the Highlanders 21-6 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.
It was another impressive defensive performance by the visitors who also scored two tries to earn themselves an important victory in their first match on the road that moves them back up to the top of the Super Rugby standings.
The Highlanders lost for the second time in seven games to drop back to third place on the overall table ahead of their bye week and hold second spot behind the Chiefs in the New Zealand conference.
Winger Gio Aplon and full-back Joe Pietersen scored first-half tries for the visitors, while the rest of the Stormers' points came from the boots of Pietersen and Peter Grant.
It was a clinical performance from the visitors, an intimidating effort up front well backed by intelligent kicking, incisive back play and some bruising midfield defence.
The match fell short of expectations of a top-of-the-table clash, though the Stormers put in arguably their best performance of the season with their forwards dominating their opposition pack.
In the 12th minute, captain Jean de Villiers pounced on a Highlanders fumble and toed ahead for Aplon to gather and touch down.
An end-to-end piece of brilliance just on the half-hour mark extended the Stormers' lead, as full-back Pietersen collected an ill-timed Aaron Smith chip kick and launched a counterattack which he ended 90 metres later with a try.
Their suffocating defence held the Highlanders to just two penalties through fly-half Chris Noakes, and lead 15-6 at the break.
And although the Highlanders threw everything they had at the Stormers in the second half, they just could not penetrate their rivals' watertight defensive line.
The second stanza turned into something of an arm wrestle, with two Grant penalties the only addition to the scoreboard.
The scorers:
For Highlanders
Pens: Noakes 2
For Stormers:
Tries: Aplon, Pietersen
Cons: Grant
Pens: Pietersen, Grant 2
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 James Haskell, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Ma'afu Fia, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Doug Tietjens, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Buxton Popoali'i, 22 Phil Burleigh.
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean De Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Brok Harris, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Comments
philipjfry says...
@leebok: You made a comment on the Hurricanes v Sharks game calling for the match to be replayed because of poor referring. Statements like that are not going to make you any friends. The Sharks did not lose because of poor reffing.
Posted 17:15 07th April 2012
Ramage says...
@seaninhalf oh well as we have come to expect the usual whinining and bleating from a saffa about one sided refereeing do you guys ever stop just accept the fact that the Stormers played good rugby their defence held out the Highlanders and please stop your whining you people are such bad sports when it comes to the games all these alleged charges against these cheating low life NZ referees it reall is becoming a whining crescendo. Leebok please take note.
Posted 16:59 07th April 2012
Ramage says...
@leebok why do we run onto the field and assault referees do we throw bottles at players of the opposite teams I think people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Posted 16:54 07th April 2012
kpe12 says...
Masterful performance from the Stormers, look a tough team to beat. Good sign for Springbok supporters.
Looks like the SA conference may be the toughest at the moment (coming from a kiwi fan)
Posted 12:58 07th April 2012
ben7 says...
what a try by pietersen!!!! he was superb today. The stormers defence looks amazing! especially etzebeth, hes one hell of a player, habanas looking decent again too.
Posted 12:28 07th April 2012
SACanuck says...
Well played Stormers. Great try best of the weekend
Posted 12:03 07th April 2012
jonesy2 says...
bleh. highlanders played horribly. missing slade like crazy
Posted 11:26 07th April 2012
seaninhalf says...
Yeah baby! We had to work against a very one sided ref who missed many Highlnader indiscretions. Best defence in Super Rugby right now just confirmed that the Stormers are on best form and it will take a very, very good side to beat Stormers! Very proud of the boys in blue and white!
Posted 11:16 07th April 2012
martinmarais78 says...
Watch and learn Sharkies how to do things with an export-minded union where rugby stars are made!!
Great job done Stormers!
Posted 10:51 07th April 2012
Dangerous says...
The stormers look very impressive. Defense was very tight and aggressive. Support play brilliant. If they keep it up it will be them and the 'other team' in the final.
Posted 10:45 07th April 2012