Mighty Stormers stingiest in the competition

 Cape Town – Instructively, perhaps, it hasn’t yet earned them Super Rugby’s grand prize, but the Stormers continue to be trend-setters under the now three-year-old conference system for economy in try-concession.(According to ou maaaikie we leak like a sive out wide -bwahahahahhahaha)

Allister Coetzee’s charges finished seventh in ordinary season for 2013, one agonising place shy of playoffs qualification – the first time they have failed to make the cut since the advent of the new format in 2011.

But once again they could be branded “Scrooge” not only for premier excellence in the defensive department, during the gruelling phase ahead of the finals series, but also their struggle to cross the whitewash themselves.

This year’s Stormers side equalled their own SANZAR record, first set in 2011, for fewest tries conceded (18) across 16 conference matches – very little more than one a game.

It was a whole five tries better than the next best team in that regard, fifth-placed Australians the Reds (23 against).

The statistic also means that the Newlands-based franchise have gone three years of conference activity as the tightest defensive outfit of the lot – they only gave away 21 tries last year, nine better than eventual champions the Chiefs (30) in second spot for fewest tries conceded.

But of consternation to many of their loyal supporters, the flip side is that the Stormers stubbornly keep a reputation for being well less than entertainers in a 'tries for' capacity.

They crossed the line 30 times in their 16 matches – an average of just under two tries a game – which meant they were superior only to minnows the Kings (27 tries) and Force (26).

It was reminded in TV commentary that the last-named side, despite a commendable 21-15 upset of the Brumbies in Perth last weekend, have not registered a four-try bonus point in 25 Super Rugby matches.

Some relief for the Stormers, as they reserved one of their most vibrant performances of the year for the 30-13, slightly party-spoiling dismantling of the Bulls on Saturday, was that in dotting down three times they beefed their try count to 30, thus eclipsing their 28 last season.

In that 2012 campaign, the Capetonians peculiarly notched fewer tries than anyone else yet still managed to top the overall table after ordinary season – even the subsequently axed, bottom-placed Lions pressed 30 times.

Here are the tries for-and-against ratios for all the South African sides after the SA conference season this year:  Bulls (1st) 41-34, Cheetahs (2nd) 38-32, Stormers (3rd) 30-18, Sharks (4th) 40-31, Kings (5th) 27-69.

impressive defence, but surely they can see that theres more to rugby then being great defenders??? all that attacking talent in the backline and coetzee has never been able to efficently use it to make decent attacking plays.
they were the thrid worst try scoring team this year and they were the worst attacking team in 2012, was also the only team who didnt socre a 4 try bonus point that season. they were all right in 2011, finishing with the 6th worst try scoring record, but the point is it hasnt worked, stormers have never played in a finals, despite hosting semifinals in newlands twice in a row.

and now habana their numbe rone strike wapon is gone, so if nothing changes next year, i wouldnt be surprised if rolling mauls are the only way stormers score any of their tries next year.

Stingy on defence, stingy on attack and stingy on log points.

Well if you considered that we played a flank on hooker. A lock on flank. Playing a reserve reserve scrumhalf and had two or 3 incidents go against us which should have gone the other way on another day.

But some look at the glass half empty I look it half full.

They scored 2 tries to nothing against the Blues and lost. Talking about Magical kiwi sides winning on tries not penalties. 

I don't give a feck about scoring huge amounts of tries. Look where it gets the Hurricanes year by year nowhere. Winning is more important than entertainement

Salute Ma se kinders

 Spoony some truth there not the whole story. Great to have terrific defence, but we do need to up our attacking ability. Why not. One should aim at excellecy in all departments.

When I look at a back like Gerhard van der heever I cannot but wonder where he would be now if he had been playing for the Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs were weak on defence but improved. Likewise we are not doing enough on attack and need to improve.

I thought the play of Gary van Aswegen helped us a lot. Taking the ball up and a bullet like pass that put people into space really lifted our attack. He really played very well against the bulle.

But yes I would take winning every time. However our chances of winning would rise if our attack was more productive. We really should not be scoring so few tries.

@spoony,
winning is more important then entertainment, and thats something the stormers have never done, hence their zero trophies and no finals appearance in 2013.
hurricanes have plenty of issues to deal with, and hurricane fans can be mistakened to have bipolar by watching any of their matches, but the lack of results they have mustered is exatly the same as the stormers, hence their zero titles. at least hurricanes dont have a reputation of putting u in a coma during their matches, something that u happens a lot during the stormers matches and something that only thier fans are immune too.

fouries a better loosie then a hooker and with that ntbueni fella looking the goods, liebenberg and ntbueni should see fourie spend more time at loosie where he is at his most dangerous.

 The 2009 Stormers had a great attack, this was before the new defensive system was put in place.

Since then the best defence but the worst backline performance. 

I would fire Robbie Fleck, he is the backline attack coach and get someone new.

Pieter Roussouw from the Bulls looks like a better option.

Sad when they admit to playing better without the ball .

 Sharkbok, Alistair Coetzee was the Bok backline coach! Surely if he were any good he could rectify matters!!! That is supposed to be his speciality,