It was a totally professional effort from a very good team. The Stormers played their hearts out as well....but with significant disadvantages. Jantjies is a handicap and Fourie's lineout throwing negated our strongest phase. Against good teams, you are only as strong as your weakest link.
The Stormers lost the possession and territory battle in the middle half of the game.....mostly because they kept getting penalized. The Saders played things just as close to the vest, but avoided the penalties. And in Tyler Blyendaal they had a tough minded young flyhalf who looked so much better than Jantjies. All the way to the last 'injury" to Crockett which allowed his side to regroup, the Saders were the professionals.
Both sides showed supreme defence close to their lines.....although I wonder why in these phase periods, you don't have at least one player cutting in at pace......or a switch to the non defended side. It's all so predictable.
The Saders were full value for their win, but one small carp. How the hell was Vermeulen's tackle a yellow. It seems failing to put a lifted leg on the ground is now a "tip" tackle. The commentator's to their shame first said it hadn't gone past ninety degrees and then after the decision, claimed it did.
For the Stormers you'd have to say van den Heever and Jean were the pick of the backs. Jean in particular got past the first defender routinely. In the pack I think we scrummed much better with Cilliers replacing Kitshoff. Becker got rattled by the throwing issues, but did some mighty work in the loose. And all three Stormers loosies played well.
But man for man the Saders were mostly better and for me Bleyendaal was the revelation of the day.....a guy that looks like he could play test rugby tomorrow.
