CAPE TOWN – Independent Media rugby writer Wynona Louw has rated each of the Stormers players out of ten for their performance in Friday's 41-22 defeat to the Hurricanes.
SP Marais
- 6/10: I understand he wants to try things, but why why would you kick a grubber if you have no players anywhere in sight to chase it? And to make matters worse, Jordie Barrett didn’t even have to move an awful lot to secure possession of the ball, Marais basically kicked right into his hands. That was one of the Stormers’ biggest problems. I don’t understand why he just stopped chasing the very same Barrett brother leading up to his try. That’s one thing the whole Stormers team can learn from Cheslin Kolbe. Marais did well to slot all three kicks at goal and he tried to step in when Robert du Preez went off. Terrible touchfinder late in the game. With two minutes to go, the ball went off his knee and into the hands of the Canes.
Cheslin Kolbe
- 6/10: Gathered a high ball nicely in the first quarter. Did well to chase the ball after a Hurricanes kick, but they ended up scoring anyway. At least when he decided to kick the ball ahead he chased it, but alas, it again ended up in the Hurricanes’ clutches. Was brushed off by Julian Savea at the end.
EW Viljoen
- 5/10: Lost the ball in the tackle right after Bongi Mbonambi turned over possession for the Stormers. Nicely capitalised on a fumbled pass by the Canes in the first half. Made a few good metres. Conceded a turnover.
Shaun Treeby
- 6/10: Definitely added some impact on defence. But what was with that kop-af carrying? He reminded me of someone. At times it looked like he just went to ground by himself. Nice little push off the boot in the first quarter that found space, but unfortunately Perenara had it covered.
Dillyn Leyds
- 5/10: The kick that was charged down by Brad Shields and resulted in the Hurricanes’ first try was shocking, and it showed that the Stormers don’t always think when they have the ball. Or you can put it down to a lack of awareness and vision. And then, to make it even worse, he just gave up on chasing Cory Jane as he sprinted to the line. Did well to secure a high ball, but couldn’t get the pass away to Treeby. Lovely run early in the second half.
Robert du Preez
- 5/10: Slotted the Stormers’ first penalty. He was one of the guilty parties who kicked straight down one of the Barretts’ throats. Maybe he should go take lessons from Beauden on when to put in an attacking kick and when not to, because he did it again in the second quarter, and he can be lucky the ill-disciplined Canes were penalised just before he kicked it as that ball went straight into Perenara’s eager hands. Left the field late in the first half with a shoulder injury and was replaced by Bjorn Basson, who’s most impressive contribution was jumping over a defender to get to a ruck where he didn’t do anything anyway.
Dewaldt Duvenage
- 3/10: One good box kick early on, other than that I don’t know what to say about him kicking possession away the whole time anymore. He just needs to stop. Quicker ball from the ruck would also be appreciated. Basically handed the ball to Perenara right in front of the posts and the hosts punished them for losing possession in opposition 22 yet again with another try.
Dewaldt Duvenage. Photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
Nizaam Carr
- 5/10: You can’t really blame him for that freakish try by Jordie Barrett, I mean, how often does that happen. Where does it happen? Barrett was just too quick to get a grip on the ball and he did well to hold it up.
Siya Kolisi
- 7.5/10: He was the standout Stormers player. No doubt. He made big tackles and worked hard on the ground. Made a bursting break as the half time siren went and gained huge ground. Penalised at a ruck in the second half.
Kobus van Dyk
- 6/10: He worked hard and carried well, producing some good, strong runs. Made some good tackles and he was busy at the breakdowns, but he also conceded two penalties there.
Jan de Klerk
- 5/10: He carried the ball quite a few times, but he didn’t do much with it and he contributed next to nothing in the metres-gained department. Maybe he should think of passing the ball instead of taking contact or going to ground the whole time? Made a lot of tackles.
Chris van Zyl
- 6/10: Why did he/they not contest a number of Hurricanes lineouts? Oh, and I know this obviously isn’t only his fault, but I’d like to see the Stormers at least try to get the ball from the lineout quickly. It’ll put them at much less of a risk of losing the ball and the ensuing maul, and it will of course give them an attacking chance. But back to Van Zyl, he made a few good carries and got stuck in there at the rucks.
Wilco Louw
- 6/10: He only carried the ball twice but he gained good ground. Made a lot of tackles and he didn’t miss one of them. Conceded two scrum penalties.
Bongi Mbonambi
- 5.5/10: He slipped a tackle on Cory Jane right after kick-off, so he you can’t even blame fatigue for that. Did well to snatch the ball from Ardie Savea’s grip shortly afterwards. Yellow carded for cynical play when he tried to collapse a maul in the first half. I don’t know if his time in the sin bin made him hallucinate, but that’s the only explanation I can think of for him passing the ball to a spot where there was no one in sight right after a lineout. Speaking of lineoutswhat is up with this man’s throw-ins? One of his throw-ins was snatched up by Perenara and, of course, a try followed. Knocked the ball on in the second half. But despite all that, he made a few strong tackles and worked hard in open play.
Alister Vermaak
- 5/10: Guilty of a high tackle on Perenara and he was also penalised for side entry at the ruck. Other than the scrums, that was basically the only time I saw him early on – when he popped up for infringing. Won a turnover early in the second half.