The real Stormers finally stood up with a sparkling performance in front of 30000 fans as they cruised to a comfortable 37-27 bonus point win over the Bulls in their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Friday night.
After a tight, low scoring first half where the sides went into the break level pegging, the Stormers then burst into life with a three try blitz in six second half minutes to take an emphatic lead that the Bulls couldn’t reel in over the rest of the match.
Two of those tries were some of the best you will see all season, as the Stormers showed a breathtaking exhibition of running rugby, with one try started in their own 22m and the other in their own half.
Stormers coach John Dobson admitted that he wasn’t happy with their first half performance, but was thrilled with their tries in the second half.
“I was disappointed with our return when we came in for halftime. We could have done better there. But those tries in the second half were sensational,” said Dobson.
“I read this week that we like to kick to the corner and maul, which is how we got our first try, but the real DNA of the Stormers were those (two) tries.
“So, I was very proud and pleased for the people. To have 30000 here to see those tries makes us extremely happy.”
It wasn’t a perfect performance from the Stormers, with them conceding a number of penalties over the match, but Dobson was satisfied with the effort.
“It was always going to be an intense game. Maybe because of the intensity of the game, I thought we weren’t as disciplined as we could’ve been,” said Dobson.
“I think that ill-discipline comes from a good place tonight, in us trying to compete and trying to be physical. At halftime, we were disappointed. That’s the truth, but we put it right.”
Stormers captain Steven Kitshoff, who led by example with a man-of-the-match performance, said that the win came as a major relief after a much-hyped build-up to the match from various media houses around the country.
“It’s a big relief. There was a lot of talk about this game in the media in the build-up to this game. So I am relieved and so proud of the boys in how they pitched up towards Christmas and put in such an amazing performance to get the win and bonus point,” said Kitshoff.
“Dobbo (Dobson) had some stern words at halftime. But we knew with our conditioning and the way we wanted to play that the flood gates would open sooner than later. So we just had to stick to the plan and I am just happy that the boys capitalised when the opportunities came.”
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