Stormers fail to get the point this time

Cape side come close to breaking hoodoo against Crusaders

RUGBY is cruel and yesterday the Stormers were left to rue what might have been when they came within a whisker of becoming the first South African side to beat the Crusaders on home soil in 13 years.

Leading 13-3 into the final quarter, the Stormers faded in the final minutes as the Crusaders produced a typical rearguard to protect their impressive home record and secure their first win of the season.

Home flyhalf Tom Taylor landed a 40-metre penalty six minutes from time to put the New Zealanders in front for the second and final time.

The Stormers arguably de- served the spoils as their defence returned to the highs of 2012. At one stage in the first half, the Stormers repelled 15 phases of Crusaders pressure within 10 metres of their tryline thanks to commitment and composure.

Flank Schalk Burger also produced his finest game since his return from injury and there were heroes all over the park.

Centre Damian de Allende’s stock continued to rise with another superb display and captain Jean de Villiers was back to his 2013 form.

It was the Stormers’ best performance of the season, built on brutal defence. But inability to finish after creating gilt-edged chances was their undoing.

Fullback Jaco Taute will not enjoy tomorrow’s video session after he held onto the ball five metres from the Cruaders’ line when wing Kobus van Wyk could have strolled in.

De Villiers believed he had scored when he attempted to ground the ball at the foot of the post midway through the first half. Replays showed he was centimetres short.

For a second successive week, the Stormers’ lineout struggled.

But there were many positives about this performance.

The intensity in the Stormers’

It was the Stormers’ best performance. But inability to finish after creating gilt-edged chances was their undoing

play, lacking against the Lions and lifted against the Hurricanes, went up several notches again yesterday. They are creating enough chances to win.

Burger started the move for the Stormers’ try when he scooped up an errant Willi Heinz kick and fed De Villiers, who punched a hole through the defence before chipping delicately for De Allende to score.

Two Demetri Catrakilis penalties took the Stormers 10 points clear. But Taylor added two penalties to his lone firsthalf effort and replacement wing Kieron Fonotia scored on debut moments before the winning penalty.