The Stormers overcame a fierce and physical Reds side to claim a 25-19 win in Cape Town on Saturday. JON CARDINELLI reports.
The Reds came into this clash determined to make a physical statement. It was no less than the Stormers had expected, with coach Robbie Fleck and captain Siya Kolisi lauding the Queensland side’s resurgence under former All Blacks enforcer Brad Thorn earlier in the week.
Just as the Proteas and Australia were climbing into each other in the Test match staged across the road, the Stormers were engaging the Reds in brutal combat. There were a couple of instances where the Reds overstepped the line and hammered the Stormers players off the ball. Referee Marius van der Westhuizen, however, kept the cards in his pocket for the duration of the game.
The Stormers forwards were in commanding form during the first 30-odd minutes. Good tactical kicking ensured that the hosts played the game in the right areas of the pitch, and also allowed the chasers to compete for the high ball in the air.
A smart interchange down the left-hand flank between centre EW Viljoen and scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage resulted in the latter scoring in the corner. The Stormers controlled the ball well in the buildup for their second try, with tighthead prop Wilco Louw eventually crashing over. On that occasion, the Reds’ defenders had no answer to the Stormers’ physicality.
Damian Willemse took some excellent options behind a winning pack. The Stormers flyhalf was a threat, whether he was taking on the defence or probing for space with his tactical boot.
Reds centre Duncan Paia’aua targeted Willemse with a tackle in the 31st minute that didn’t appear to be legal. The visitors escaped a yellow-card sanction, but were made to pay when Willemse got up and slotted a penalty. At 18-0, the Stormers were firmly in charge.
Two soft moments on defence, however, allowed the Reds back into the game. Caleb Timu crashed over right before half-time to see the visitors trail 18-7. Immediately after the break, replacement scrumhalf Justin Phillips’ attempted clearance was charged down, and Reds hooker Alex Mafi went on to score.
The Stormers eventually recovered to score their third try through Raymond Rhule. The Reds looked to have the Stormers attack covered until Craig Barry produced a perfectly-weighted kick for his fellow winger to chase. Willemse’s successful conversion steered the hosts into an 11-point lead with 25 minutes left on the stadium clock.
The Stormers’ performance at the collisions and breakdowns in the fourth quarter left a lot to be desired. The hosts blew several opportunities to score, and this not only cost them the try-scoring bonus point but the chance to secure the result.
Filipo Daugunu ran the length of the field to touch down in the final minute of play. The Reds won a penalty thereafter, and booted the ball into touch to set up a lineout drive. The Stormers managed to sack the ensuing maul, though, and force the turnover that ended the match.
The Stormers have now won two games in a row and will go into next week’s north-south derby at Loftus Versfeld with some confidence and momentum. The Bulls, of course, are coming off four consecutive defeats.
Stormers – Tries: Dewaldt Duvenage, Wilco Louw, Raymond Rhule. Conversions: Damian Willemse (2). Penalties: Willemse (2).
Reds – Tries: Caleb Timu, Alex Mafi, Filipo Daugunu. Conversions: Jono Lance (2).
Stormers – 15 George Whitehead, 14 Craig Barry, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Damian De Allende, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Cobus Wiese, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Subs: 16 Dean Muir, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Kobus van Dyk, 21 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 22 Justin Phillips, 23 Joshua Stander.
Reds – 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Filipo Daugunu, 13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Chris Feauai-Sautia, 10 Jono Lance, 9 Ben Lucas, 8 Caleb Timu, 7 Adam Korczyk, 6 Angus Scott-Young, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Alex Mafi, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Jean-Pierre Smith, 18 Sef Fa’agase, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Eto Nabuli.
Photo: Nic Bothma/EPA
