Trouncing for Stormers in Christchurch

THE Stormers’ 57-24 thrashing by the Crusaders in Christchurch yesterday was anything but pretty, but coach Robbie Fleck praised his team for the way they “stayed in there and fought” in the second half.

The Crusaders ran in eight tries to the Stormers’ three, and after a promising first 10 minutes by the visitors, things started unravelling badly for Fleck’s men as the only unbeaten team in the Super Rugby competition scored three times through wing George Bridge in just 20 minutes, before skipper Kieran Read also added two of his own before half-time (36-3).

In the second half the Stormers’ defence, which was lacking in the first half to say the least, looked a bit better, and Fleck said that it was this area that was a focus point in the dressing-room.

“Once they got the roll on us there in the second part of the first half it was tough to stop them. It wasn’t the ideal first half, and we did improve our defence in the second half. But like I said, in the first half when they got the ball we just couldn’t stop them.”

The defeat to the Crusaders is the Stormers’ second in two weeks, after falling to the Lions at Newlands, one week after put up a masterclass performance at home to beat the Chiefs.

And with two games left on their tour against the Highlanders and the Hurricanes, Fleck said that testing themselves and measuring their progress against the Kiwis will again be the goal when they meet these two teams.

SCORERS: Crusaders: Tries: George Bridge (3), Kieran Read (2), Michael Alaalatoa, Peter Samu, Manasa Mataela Conversions: Richie Mo’unga (7) Penalties: Mo’unga Stormers: Tries: Cheslin Kolbe, Bjorn Basson, Frans Malherbe Conversions: Robert du Preez (3) Penalties: Du Preez

THE Bulls scored a late try through Jesse Kriel to edge the Cheetahs in a disappointing Super Rugby derby played at Loftus Versfeld last night, writes

Jacques van der Westhuyzen.

Much was expected of the teams, who have a long history in both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup, but neither produced anything special in a match that will quickly be forgotten by the fans.

The Bulls though will feel they have built on their win against the Jaguares the week before, while things have gone from bad to worse for the Cheetahs who not only gave up a handy lead against the Chiefs last week to lose badly, but they looked devoid of ideas last night.

The visitors led 11-3 at the break after a fairly dominant first period, but managed to score just three points in the second half as the Bulls hit back to keep alive their slim hopes of featuring in the playoffs in the weeks to come.

It was a game of few highlights and not much creativity and Bulls captain Adriaan Strauss admitted his team had work ahead of them.

“It was a tough game, went down to the wire, but glad we could get up at the end,” said Strauss. “It was not a great game and we couldn’t get into any rhythm, but it was an important win for us, We had to grind it out.”

The visitors started brilliantly and were rewarded for their dominance when Paul Schoeman finished off after a line-out drive and when Niel Marais slotted a penalty on 10 minutes the Cheetahs deservedly led 8-0.

It was all the team of Franco Smith at that stage, but the Bulls had their moments, regularly taking the ball through several phases and winning good territory but all they could show for their efforts was three points thanks to the boot of flyhalf Tian Schoeman.

Neither side really created any decent opportunities in a disappointing first half, but the Cheetahs finished the 40 minutes stronger than the Bulls and they led 11-3 after a second penalty by Marais.

The Bulls though, desperate to not go down at home, hit back after the break through replacement Jacques Potgieter, who finished off after a good build-up by the home side, and the conversion by Schoeman made it a one-point game with 20 minutes remaining.

Marais though struck another penalty to edge the Cheetahs four points clear, but the home side again hit back, this time through Schoeman’s boot and the 74th minute converted try by Kriel, which turned out to be the last points in a forgettable encounter. SCORERS Bulls (3) 20 Tries: Potgieter, Kriel; Conversion: Schoeman (2); Penalties: Schoeman (2) Cheetahs (11) 14 Try: Schoeman; Penalties: Marais (3) In other week nine action The Chiefs’ Aaron Cruden slotted three second-half penalties to help secure a laboured 16-7 victory against a plucky Force in Perth.

Elton Jantjies kicked a penalty two minutes from time to earn the Lions a seventh win in eight games and break the deadlock after a feisty showing from their Argentine visitors at Ellis Park on Friday. The Lions twice came from behind, first after going behind to Matias Orlando’s try, to lead 14-7 at halftime through scores from Harold Vorster and Lionel Mapoe.

Jaguares’ forwards Rodrigo Baez and Guido Petti crossed the line twice in three minutes to reclaim the lead for the visitors in the second half before Ruan Ackermann’s try made it 21-21 10 minutes from time. Jantjies slotted over a penalty to win the game to the relief of the Ellis Park crowd.

South Africa’s Kings rallied in the second half to shock an error-prone Waratahs 26-24 in Sydney on Friday to pick up only their second win of the season. The Kings, who trailed 17-7 at half-time, scored tries through Justin Forwood, Masixole Banda and Michael Willemse and were awarded a late seven-point penalty try. Lionel Cronjé kicked two conversions.

Centre Vince Aso scored a hat-trick of tries as the Wellington Hurricanes overhauled ACT Brumbies 56-21 in Nelson on Friday. Centre Matt Faddes scored a brace of tries as the Otago Highlanders cruised to a 40-15 bonus-point victory over the Sunwolves in their Super Rugby match at Invercargill yesterday. – Reuters