[2017 Super Rugby] Round 8: Stormers vs. Lions (15/04/2017)

[TRF_stormer2010]

Odd, i had a look at Stormers lineup comparsion and kinda agree, but if i had to put money on it, i'd probably bet on the Lions. They just look more cohesive as a team to me but maybe i am a bit too 2016.

You sum up my feelings very well. I keep expecting the Stormers to retreat into one-off runners, aimless kicking, putting feet off of the pedal and generally trying not to play any rugby at all. They keep surprising me. I thought maybe its a case of poor opposition. But then for the mst part I actually do not think the opposition has been poor to the point of making us look a lot more than we are. I thought lets wait for the Chiefs game. We are sure to see our true colors but now I am not trusting that result either.

 

[unrated]

Come on Stormers i need you to win this one! If the Lions lose this one then it makes it just a bit easier for the rest of us Africa 2 teams.
This will be another high intensity game and i wonder how the lions will play now that they know that their coach is leaving. Will they still have that team spirit? On a little side note have you guys noticed how Johan Ackerman said how his team is playing for God. it seems like they claim its the basis for some of their commitment and why they say they are successful. Just wondering how Ackerman will use that same mindset in England where most people are atheist.

 

[SomeOke]

Come on Stormers i need you to win this one! If the Lions lose this one then it makes it just a bit easier for the rest of us Africa 2 teams.
This will be another high intensity game and i wonder how the lions will play now that they know that their coach is leaving. Will they still have that team spirit? On a little side note have you guys noticed how Johan Ackerman said how his team is playing for God. it seems like they claim its the basis for some of their commitment and why they say they are successful. Just wondering how Ackerman will use that same mindset in England where most people are atheist.

I don't want to get into a religious debate but I hate it when they do this.

If God exists why has he taken up match fixing? Is God from Gauteng?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I don't think he has ever claimed God directly influences their outcomes LOL. Belief in something (someone) higher and a resulted higher perspective of priority eases fear/anxiety/pressure and manages expectations enhancing performance. They have also stated rather that their shared beliefs act as a unifying factor in a country at a time where it seems the ANC is doing its utmost to divide and I think we can all agree rugby is a team sport and a group of guys laying for each other will be a lot more effective than if individuals cared only for their own impact on a game.

Also, don't worry Sharks and Jaguares supporters. Our boys done here have got this. I'm calling it now. We'll keep SA 2 tight and interesting. Jaguares might even jump into pole position from 3rd .

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lions line-up released;

15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Courtnal Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Warren Whiteley (captain), 7 Ruan Ackermann, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques v Rooyen
Substitutes: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Lourens Erasmus, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Harold Vorster, 23 Sylvian Mahuza

Strongest of the season on paper. I'm hoping Mapoe and co. have trouble getting back on the horse. Too much to hope for?

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Stormers line-up also looking very similar. Wiese out but Vermaak back in. Much over muchness.

Stormers
15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel

 

[SomeOke]

Stormers line-up also looking very similar. Wiese out but Vermaak back in. Much over muchness.

Stormers
15 SP Marais, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 EW Viljoen, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Siya Kolisi (captain), 6 Nizaam Carr, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Johan du Toit, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Dan Kriel

I know Hein said he liked Wiese but I don't think it's a huge loss personally, Carr has been good of the bench. I know it creates a little bit of an imbalance in our loose trio but it doesn't matter because our locks are beasts. I said if Eben and <strike>PTSD</strike> PSDT were playing we'd have a good shot and I stand by that.

We should win but we could suffer from mental and physical fatigue.

Go Stormers!

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Was just going to say the Lions halfbacks look a shadow of themselves last year then Cronje does that cracking flat pass. No idea who is going to win this.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

oh well.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Before the stormers vs chiefs game i thought to myself "best defense vs best offense". Lions defense seems a tad better to be fair. They look so composed even under immense pressure. Quite amazing. The first 10 minutes of the second half were a defense masterclass from the lions. Superb stuff

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The defense killed us but we were a tad hurried and one-offish when it came to finishing and I felt the Lions were cynical in their own 22. We let them off the hook though. After every penalty we'd lose the ball on the following play.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

A pretty sobering day for the Stormers. First the Cheetahs put a new spin on the Stormers victory over the Chiefs last week. Then the Lions just suffocated them for extended periods of this match and to my mind were deserved winners.

The Lion's success last year was their pack creating opportunities for their 9, 10 & 12 to unlock the opposing defence. The pack is still doing the business but there is room for big improvement in the backs who I think are a significant level below last year (although it may be I'm not giving the Stormers defence a disservice here).

I was actually pleased to see this wasn't an 80 point try-fest. Both sides will need to defend well to get into the semis and beyond.

 

[Ground We Won]

I have a feeling the Lions are going to win it this year, they're the most complete team.

 

[galumay]

I was surprised by how easily the Lions overcame the Stormers, looks like they will be the side to make it to the finals from this conference.

 

[JohnnyTightLips]

Confused by the "Carried Back" infringement by the Lions at the 19th minute. Seen players do that before but never get penalized for it.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Confused by the "Carried Back" infringement by the Lions at the 19th minute. Seen players do that before but never get penalized for it.

If i remember right that was the number 14 (who had an ordinary game). I thought the call was alright, it was a well judged kick that left him no option really.

 

[TRF_heineken]

2 for 2 for me on the results...

Pity Rohan Janse van Rensburg got injured so early in the game, I hope he recovers soon. But what an impact did Vorster make when came on, that try of his was just class.

I am also happy this wasn't a try fest, but not for the same reasons as others have mentioned. It shows me that the SA teams haven't forgotten about their defensive responsibilities, and that playing to SA's traditional strengths, can still be incorporated into making a more attractive brand of rugby.

Congrats Lions

 

[saulan]

The Lions were just the better team on the day. I didn't expect to see the strength that they showed in the scrums,and they did better in the lineouts as well. Their forwards outplayed our forwards, but our backs still received clean ball from the rucks, but the Lions did a great job of shutting down our offloading capabilities, noting that SP liked going in high to offload and holding him up for a maul scrums three times I think. After the first half I think our players were flustered and crumbled a bit under the pressure, we lost up and unders consistently and there were a number of unforced handling errors. A positive I guess is that we didn't try to revert to the type of rugby that we have been playing in the past couple of seasons. I was disappointed with Kolisi's decision making at the start of the second half though. We were on their line for what? 10 minutes? and received about three or four penalties there. I understand taking a crack for the try off the first penalty, but at some point you need to go for the points, especially when it would take you within 7. I feel that the end result of that passage of play was our players feeling a bit demoralised and feeling like they were playing against a brick wall, some points would have mitigated that factor and brought us back into the game.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

The Lions were just the better team on the day. I didn't expect to see the strength that they showed in the scrums,and they did better in the lineouts as well. Their forwards outplayed our forwards, but our backs still received clean ball from the rucks, but the Lions did a great job of shutting down our offloading capabilities, noting that SP liked going in high to offload and holding him up for a maul scrums three times I think. After the first half I think our players were flustered and crumbled a bit under the pressure, we lost up and unders consistently and there were a number of unforced handling errors. A positive I guess is that we didn't try to revert to the type of rugby that we have been playing in the past couple of seasons. I was disappointed with Kolisi's decision making at the start of the second half though. We were on their line for what? 10 minutes? and received about three or four penalties there. I understand taking a crack for the try off the first penalty, but at some point you need to go for the points, especially when it would take you within 7. I feel that the end result of that passage of play was our players feeling a bit demoralised and feeling like they were playing against a brick wall, some points would have mitigated that factor and brought us back into the game.

Especially with Kriel's non-try given. TMO not following the rule book. that said the Lions were up for this one. We really did miss Elstadt and/or Wiese. Heineken called it. I just did not expect it to be this tight but its good our teams can defend like that although we let in a few we shouldn't.

 

[Gena_ZA]

Lions outplayed the Stormers and at a good time that reality set in as there are still lots of work to be done to even start thinking of silverware