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Winning penalty: Peter Grant
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Teams
- Bulls
- Stormers
Also see
- Western Force blow Reds away
- Sharks end Canberra drought
A 77th-minute penalty from Peter Grant saw the Stormers beat the Bulls 20 -17 in a hard-fought battle in Cape Town on Saturday.
After trailing 14-0 at half time, the Bulls launched a thrilling comeback to level the scores at 17-all with just twelve minutes left on the clock.
But it was not to be for the men in...pink...as a controversial scrum penalty in the dying moments handed victory and the tournament lead to the Stormers, who remain the only unbeaten side in the competition.
There is clearly no love lost between these sides and the ferocious battle was characterised by an abundance of needle and petty off-the-ball incidents.
The former champions will head back to Pretoria harbouring a number of regrets after outscoring their hosts two tries to one, but ultimately paying for their chronic indiscipline.
Despite the Bulls dominating the early stages in terms of both territory and possession, Stormers full-back Joe Pietersen was able to kick his team into a 6-0 lead by the half-hour mark.
The Bulls' indiscipline saw them fall further behind as Pietersen added a third penalty to extended the lead to nine points, despite the hosts having hardly visited the Bulls' 22.
When the Stormers did eventually threaten the whitewash on the stroke of half time, they made it count as Tiaan Liebenberg crashed over from short range after a powerful run from Siya Kolisi.
Pietersen's conversion was wide but the home side nevertheless held a 14-0 lead at the interval.
Things went from bad to worse for the Bulls after the break when Flip van der Merwe saw yellow for taking Eben Etzebeth out in the air at a line-out.
But the sin-bin period proved to be the Bulls most profitable period as first Bjorn Basson won a foot race to Francois Hougaard's chip ahead and then Morne Steyn reduced the gap to just four points from the kicking tee.
Pietersen restored the seven-point lead soon afterwards but the Bulls' comeback was relentless and Wynand Olivier made Andries Bekker pay for a defensive error to slip away and score in the corner.
Steyn's touchline conversion levelled matters in the 68th minute, setting up a grandstand finish.
But it would be Grant who had the last laugh, splitting the uprights with his first kick of the game to claim his side's fifth win of the season.
The scorers:
For the Stormers:
Try: Liebenberg
Pens: Pietersen 4, Grant
For the Bulls:
Tries: Basson, Olivier
Cons: Steyn 2
Pen: Steyn
Yellow cards: Van der Merwe (Bulls - 42nd min - puling line-out jumper down)
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Nic Koster, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (c), 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 CJ Stander, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Comments
martinmarais78 says...
Jaystarr, who cares, we are winning! Cheetahs almost lost it again with their entertaining running!
Posted 18:49 03rd April 2012
Capedcrusader says...
@ letsgoboks
You talk about Oz & NZ supporters booing at kicks but the same can be said for SA except there is so much noise going on period it is difficult to hear a particular word....
The worst ever respect was the one minute silence for the Motherwell players. I was waiting for it to start. There was NO silence whatsoever - utterly disgraceful but no surprise there pal.
Posted 14:07 03rd April 2012
letsgoboks says...
Ha carpelone! I agree.
But thats cause it was played in a coastal city... Im a bulls supporter and the girls in Loftus look like they've been backed over a couple of times by a large pick up truck with a pair of blue bulls hanging off the tailgate.
Posted 10:27 02nd April 2012
Ramage says...
I take the point there are probably many decisions that happen during a game that we could disagree with, rightly or wrongly, and if I am to pick only on an incident at the end of a game then I too am being selective. It is sad however when a decision like that either wins or loses a game for a team. I unlike many others would not claim that the decision made was made because Joubert favoured the Stormers or wanted them to win or some other corrupt practices that are often thrown at referees from other countries or the former Head of Referees Paddy O'Brien. I disagree with Joubert's decision and have admitted I could be wrong he saw it differently to me and could very well be right and probably is, despite my scepticism. Despite my disagreement I consider him Simply the Best. I love the way he singles out a player who is concerned about his rulings and explains one to one why he ruled the way he did. Shades of Mark Lawrence another fine referee who also IMHO was a very fine referee.
Posted 09:45 02nd April 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
Until they talk carpelone, and some of their fashion sense is terrible but otherwise agree they're pretty sharp to look at
Posted 02:02 02nd April 2012
Bigspottedcat says...
BEST game of rugby I have seen in 2012. Wow.
The only thing in the NH which can compare is the French Top 12.
Posted 19:57 01st April 2012
carpelone says...
Ferocius encounter, when I see this, I wish to be back during my playing times.
Did you have a look at the stands? South African women are the best.
Posted 19:39 01st April 2012
7ton says...
spiffed.
I didn't see the game so can't comment on that last penalty but I do agree that the scrum laws should be looked at. Many scrum penalties such as for not binding are really not worth 3 points and I suspect that the ref guesses at times re collapsed scrums. It is a shame when a game is decided by some dodgy penalty.
Posted 18:25 01st April 2012
spliffed says...
Why the referee? He has two assistants who should have been spotting these things. I'm a Stormers fan and even I thought the penalty that gave the Stormers the game was harsh at best. The scrum laws really need to be looked at. As an ex prop what is safer? Breaking the bind momentarily, supporting it with your hand on the ground to stop the scrum collapsing and risking serious injury, and then binding again, or keeping the bind come what may? The super tight jerseys dont help matters either. Anyone who has played prop knows that if your hand is on the ground stopping the scrum collapsing its hardly an advantage. In fact it means you cant push as well as when bound.
Posted 12:18 01st April 2012
jackblack says...
For all those saying Craig Joubert gifted the Stormers a win, must also have noticed the forward pass that he didn't notice that led to the WO try. As for those saying the Cheetahs are some kind of champion team - you should take note of their perennial position on the log and expect the Kings to replace them next year. This game is one of epic importance in SA and is never a pretty affair. The North v South rivalry comes from the oldest rugby tournament in world history (the Curry Cup) which is sadly being pushed out for "Super" rugby.
Posted 10:40 01st April 2012
Wallaroo says...
A hard fought game and IMHO the better team won, even though the last penalty was incorrectly awarded.
Posted 09:55 01st April 2012
leebok says...
@BigRugbyBalls are you for real? youve never left a job for a better one for more pay? Habana went to the best club in the World.
Up Die Bokke..
A fortunate win for sure, but the Stormers should have wrapped it up when bulls were down to 14 men. It was a mistake that lead to the bulls try. If stormers had scored instead of dropping hte ball and allowing Hougaard to hack forward it would have been game over. We let them back in. Still work to do but unbeaten is always a good record but now the tough part. Away games.
Posted 09:47 01st April 2012
bloemboy says...
It was a pretty tough game. Watching the Bulls in PINK IS WRONG!!! Aside from that, I thought the game was all about testosterone instead of getting the ball to do some work. If I was Coetzee, I would have Goosen or Sias Ebershon high on my shopping list, and I would also be trying to lure Sarel Pretorius or Jano Vermaak. It seems that these are the positions that they lack the creativity that will spark the talent on their outside. In my own opinion, Duvenage and Grant are the weak links. They may fit well in other structures, but if they want their backline to spark, these 2 need to go.
Posted 09:41 01st April 2012
rugbyrabbit says...
bokrocker is clearly off his rocker ........ and BigRugbyBalls needs to grow some! ridiculous commentary ... get a life, gentle(wo)men
Posted 08:16 01st April 2012
Ramage says...
I believe Craig Joubert is a very good referee but I do agree with Bokrocket that he got the penalty which decided the game all wrong. In my humble opinion the cause of that scrum breaking up was the angle at which the Stormers prop was boring in. Be interested to hear what others thought. Enjoyed the contest though.
Posted 06:55 01st April 2012
hayj05 says...
@Kappelange - Don't get too ahead of yourself. It's a long season & the Stormers have had a bye & played 4 of their 5 games at home, with the only away game being against the Lions. They've been intense without looking convincing.
The Stormers were looking good for the final last year weren't they?
Posted 01:43 01st April 2012
Herbman says...
@BigRugbyBalls I assume you're being sarcastic? Half the Bulls team comes from Cape Town y'know...
Posted 00:23 01st April 2012
JayStarr says...
I am VERY relieved that the Stormers won... But I am very disillusioned with them. And it's been a long time coming...
I want Alistair Coetzee and Robbie Fleck to sit down and watch all the Stormers games from last season and this season so far. Then I want them to watch all the Cheetahs games from last season and this season. Then I want Alistair Coetzee to FIRE Robbie Fleck.
The Stormers have a chronic problem on attack that is filtering through to the rest of their game. They NEVER look dangerous on attack anymore! And because they don't make any impact with ball in hand, they then opt for their usual aimless kick - just handing the ball to the opposition - and then they defend again...
AAAARGH!!!
I watch all the Super Rugby games every weekend and I can safely say that there is no team who looks more clueless, uncohesive and one-dimensional with ball in hand than the Stormers... And their pathetic try-scoring rate and lack of bonus points last year was proof of that.
The only reason they are top is their impecable defense, solid set pieces and accurate goal kicking. They look weak and unthreatening with ball in hand. That's a fact they need to accept and take some drastic action to correct - because they will NEVER win the SUPER Rugby championship without being dangerous on attack..!
I watched the Cheetahs game this morning and they were BRILLIANT. You know why? Good COACHING...
We've got one of the best defensive coaches in the world, a fantastic forwards coach, a very respectable head coach... but our backline coach has contributed NOTHING! He's had some of the best attacking players in the world at his disposal... and after almost two years they still look like bumbling school boys on attack!!
ROBBIE FLECK MUST GO!
If the Stormers had the attack/skills coach of the Cheethas, we would've been champions by now...
Posted 00:03 01st April 2012
maria14 says...
i think if this is to be the stormers year, they need to play for the full 80mins, last week they left the lions back into the game and this week they threw away a huge advantage to a 14 man bulls team that had a miss firing morne steyn in their ranks. but it was a great game :) the bulls can be happy by leaving Newlands with a loosing bonus point they all matter xxx
Posted 22:34 31st March 2012
BigRugbyBalls says...
That traitor Habana, how dare he spend four years at one Super Rugby franchise then move to another one in search of a new challenge and better wages. Bring back hanging, that's what I say. Traitorous treasonous traitor...
Posted 21:23 31st March 2012