Even most diehard Stormers fans wouldn’t have expected it. No, not just a victory over the Bulls at Loftus, but the manner in which the Cape side’s forwards dominated the scrums and physical battle to record one of the biggest upsets between these old foes.
The odds were stacked against Allister Coetzee’s team as the Bulls had 13 Springboks in their match-23 compared to the four of the Stormers. But no one gave the tight-five of Steven Kitshoff, Scarra Ntubeni, Vincent Koch, Jean Kleyn and Ruan Botha the script, and they proceeded to outsmart the Bulls as they never took a step back in the scrums, competed well in the lineouts and were relentless in carrying the ball up or tackling to secure a memorable 29-17 win.
And they were backed up by the powerful loose trio of captain Duane Vermeulen, Michael Rhodes and Rynhardt Elstadt, who all worked tirelessly on defence and carried the ball strongly up the middle.
Not even a second half wobble that brought the Bulls to within three points could deny the Stormers as replacement No 10 Kurt Coleman slotted a difficult late penalty and a drop goal.
“It was an absolutely pleasing result for us, especially in light of the fact that we had been written off completely. I think this team answered a lot of questions, and I’m particularly pleased with the physicality of the team,” Coetzee told the Cape Times yesterday.
“Our whole build-up to the game, the week’s preparation and planning was spot-on. There was a sense of controlled aggression, and a sense of calmness within the team. Although these are young players, they are a year older now and understand things better.”
The 24-year-old debutant tighthead Koch is on loan from the Pumas, and when asked if WP were going to conclude a permanent deal with him, Coetzee said “it’s up to Vincent, and I think he is enjoying every minute down in Cape Town”.
But it wasn’t just all about the forwards. The Stormers have been largely predictable on attack over the last few years, but there was greater variety in their backline play on this occasion. Man-of-the-Match Damian de Allende was the stand-out as he engaged the defence with ball-in-hand, looked for runners in space and put in a few good tactical kicks. He also made Vermeulen’s try with a lovely dummy and well-timed pass.
Fullback Cheslin Kolbe and wing Dillyn Leyds weren’t far behind as they dealt superbly with the aerial onslaught from the Bulls kickers, and were dangerous on the counter-attack.
“We’ve always been striving to get the balance right, but the big thing was that we played in the right areas. Our decision-making was great when it came to making the offload when it was on, or holding on to the ball when it was not,” said Coetzee.
“We’ve got the players to bring variation into our play. We have a bit of structure, but never box-in players. They have the freedom to do that, and to be a bit creative. If it’s on to have a go, it’s on. But the big thing is how well we put the Bulls under pressure with our kicking game.”
But while the Bulls may have been a bit undercooked, the Blues will be desperate for a win at Newlands on Saturday after they lost a home game to the Chiefs at the weekend.
Coetzee is wary of the Blues as they play from “side to side, with good runners and steppers”. But the Stormers are likely to have two more Boks, Siya Kolisi and Frans Malherbe, back this week, and the coach is hopeful that wing Kobus van Wyk (calf) will also be fit.
They will have to wait at least another week for Schalk Burger, though, as his Japanese club Suntory won their playoff yesterday to advance to the semi-finals of a cup competition. - Cape Times