Stormers outplay Brumbies at Newlands
A BRILLIANT tactical and skilled performance from the Stormers earned them a big scalp when they took down the previously unbeaten Brumbies last night.
While there was some controversy over wing Dillyn Leyds’ try three minutes from time — he appeared to lose the ball — there was no quibbling over the identity of the better team.
There was some superb rugby played in this match but it was also spiteful, especially from the Brumbies, who were under the cosh all night. Their niggle eventually turned ugly when replacement hooker Josh Mann-Rea was sent off for punching prop Oli Kebble. It wasn’t the only incident of the evening.
The Australian outfit are rightly tipped as one of the favourites for the title but yesterday they were made to look ordinary for large parts of the match.
The Stormers don’t have the same amount of stardust sprinkled across their ranks but they have an indomitable team spirit and some special players in top form.
Locks Eben Etzebeth and PieterSteph du Toit both gave outstanding contributions last night from their lineout work to their invasive ball carrying that often put the Stormers on the front foot. On one occasion four Brumbies players were sprawled on the Newlands turf in Etzebeth’s wake.
Fullback Cheslin Kolbe buzzed and covered every blade of the Newlands turf while flyhalf Kurt Coleman finally delivered the big performance his talent has for so long promised.
He contributed 14 points from four penalties and a conversion, but it was his tactical kicking and willingness to take the ball to the line that stood out.
So effective were the Stormers that even the great David Pocock was made to look less than brilliant. But he was still effective at times. The Brumbies’ opening try stemmed from a lineout, but that lineout originated from a Pocock turnover.
This was the best Stormers’ performance in years. Their set piece was immense and tactically they were spot on with kicks that kept the visitors pinned back, which was complemented by good defence to keep the Brumbies in the wrong areas of the field.
The Stormers could have and probably should have scored a try from a rolling maul late in the half. The Brumbies pulled it down illegally and a few phases later there was a set-to between Leyds and Joe Tomane with the Australian slapping him in the face. He was lucky to escape a yellow card but the chance to score a try was gone and Coleman slotted his third penalty of the period.
Going into half time only four points down was testament to the Brumbies’ excellent defence.
After the break, the Stormers just kept at it with the same tactics. When Leyds won a speculative high kick it led to the game’s second try.
Taking the ball through five phases after Leyds’ take, flank Siya Kolisi smashed his way over from close range to put some daylight between the teams for the first time.