Stormers topple Brumbies

A LATE intercept try from wing Gerhard van den Heever secured the Stormers’ second home win and their first try-scoring bonus point of the season in another thrilling encounter against a top team last night, writes Craig Ray at Newlands.

The Brumbies arrived in Cape Town as the only unbeaten team in Super Rugby. A week earlier they had made a strong statement by thrashing the Sharks but they couldn’t come to terms with the Stormers’ ferocity on the gain line and on attack.

The Stormers never allowed the Australians time on the ball or space to work in — especially in the first half when the foundation for victory was laid. Three first-half tries — two from lock Andries Bekker and one from wing Gio Aplon — was just reward for their dominance, but it wasn’t until Van den Heever’s 75th-minute strike that the game was safe.

It was testament to the Brumbies’ resolve but they had no answer for the home team’s deft kicking game, their tight defence and desire to keep their impressive Newlands record intact and end a run of four successive Brumbies wins in Cape Town.

Aplon was sublime and epitomised the Stormers’ attitude when he bravely threw himself at the human wrecking ball that is Fotu Auelua. Aplon was knocked cold for his efforts and the collision ended his night, but his courage will not be forgotten.

After a shaky start to the campaign the Stormers are growing as a team and as individuals and their title credentials are strong after two away losses to begin the tournament. If they beat the Crusaders next week they will be in a good space before touring.

Flyhalf Elton Jantjies has had critics after three average performances but last night he delivered his most polished display.

Everyone played a part in subduing the visitors, from the raw intensity of No 8 Duane Vermeulen and prop Steven Kitshoff in defending the gain line to Van den Heever ’ s hunger for work.

But Jantjies pulled the strings and stood up to the brutal physical test he knew was coming. Earlier in the week Brumbies coach Jake White only half-jokingly said they would attack the flyhalf channel.

And they did. Twice in the first half Auelua barrelled into Jantjies and both times he stood his ground. He might have been smashed backwards, but he halted the momentum. Jantjies also played a hand in two first-half tries. He played a vital support role for Aplon ’ s opener, with a sublime inside pass to free the flyer. Aplon still had plenty to do to score, but Jantjies ’ vision gave him space.

Later Jantjies cleverly feigned a pass before slipping the ball to Bekker with no one in front of him and seven metres to the tryline.

The Brumbies initially couldn’t cope with the Stormers’ kicking game that had them pinned deep. Without fullback Jesse Mogg, whose shoulder injury kept him out, they missed a counterattacking threat.

But after the break they used Auelua to smash them over the advantage line, allowing them to stay in touch. But they were always playing catch up.