Stormers overcome fatigue and illness to beat Blues

STORMERS centre EW Viljoen scored two tries as they recorded a 37-20 Super Rugby victory over the Blues at Newlands yesterday after overcoming the rigours of longhaul travel and a flu bug that left players and management bedridden this week.

The Stormers were back home after three defeats on their tour of Australasia and, despite having limited training opportunities in the week because of the illness gripping the team, they had too much power for the Blues. Wing Raymond Rhule and scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage scored their other tries, while teenage flyhalf Damian Willemse produced a flawless kicking performance for four conversions and three penalties.

The Blues had picked up a first win of the season with a surprise 38-35 triumph over the Lions in Johannesburg last week, but the New Zealanders found none of that fire in an error-strewn performance that saw tries for the Ioane brothers, number eight Akira and centre Rieko, and fullback Michael Collins.

The home side did the damage in the first half with an energetic display. Viljoen crossed for his first try inside two minutes and Dillyn Leyds, playing at fullback, was the architect of the second as he returned a kick with a weaving run, that eventually saw Rhule finish. Their constant pressure took its toll on the visitors as Duvenage sniped between the poles to score for a 24-3 halftime lead.

Akira Ioane reduced the deficit with a try off the back of the scrum, but Stormers’ makeshift wing JJ Engelbrecht raced clear after an intercept and fed Viljoen for his second.

Collins then scored as did Rieko Ioane as the Blues finished stronger. – Reuters