Faf de Klerk breaks Stormers' hearts

MATCH REPORT: Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk scored a last-minute try to help the Cheetahs edge the Stormers XXIII 31-26 in their Currie Cup Round Four encounter at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.

It was a tense encounter throughout, and with the scores level at 26-all heading into the final minutes, the Cheetahs showed their composure with ball in hand to break the home fans’ hearts.

The visitors from Bloemfontein outscored the Capetonians by five tries to four and the bonus-point win sees them climb to second in the standings with three rounds left to play.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Stormers as they earned two losing bonus-points, which sees them one point adrift of fourth spot.

The Stormers were camped inside the Cheetahs’ half in the opening 10 minutes, and they were held up over the tryline on a couple of occasions.

The visitors eventually cracked and it was Stefan Ungerer who crashed over for the first try in the 11th minute.

With their first real attack of the game, the Cheetahs hit back with wing Prince Nkabinde scoring a five-pointer.

Marko Janse van Rensburg thought he snatched the lead for the Cheetahs in the 22nd minute; however, it was ruled out for obstruction in a maul.

The Cheetahs seemed to have the upper hand with their pack, but their hard work was undone after Simon Miller received a yellow card in the 33rd minute for some cynical play at a ruck.

The Capetonians eventually extended their lead with Vernon Paulo powering over for a try in the 39th minute.

At half-time, it was 14-5 to the Stormers XXIII.

Continuous pressure from the Cheetahs in the opening minutes of the second half resulted in Neels Volschenk stretching over for a try in the 44th minute.

After weathering the storm, the Stormers bounced back with close-quarter rugby, and it was Wandile Mlaba who found his way over the tryline in the 57th minute.

However, Mlaba was sent to the sin bin moments later for a tip tackle.

The Stormers were their own worst enemies when they failed to clear their lines under pressure, and the Cheetahs were back within touching distance after Michael Annies scored his team’s third try.

The Cheetahs then took the lead in the 69th minute after they were awarded a penalty try for Xola Nyali’s deliberate knock-on near the tryline. The Stormers flanker also received a yellow card.

After his 10 minutes in the bin, Mlaba turned into a hero again when he showed his power by going through a couple of defenders to score his second try.

Kyle Smith missed the conversion with the scores level heading into the final four minutes.

The Cheetahs cranked up the pressure in the closing stages, and after multiple phases De Klerk scored the winner in the corner.

Man of the match: The award goes to Faf de Klerk, who shifted into another gear in the second half. His decision-making and distribution kept the Stormers busy, and of course he was also the match-winner.

The scorers:

For Stormers XXIII:
Tries: Ungerer, Paulo, Mlaba 2
Cons: Du Plessis 3

For Cheetahs:
Tries: Nkabinde, Volschenk, Annies, Penalty Try, De Klerk
Cons: Du Plessis 2

Yellow cards: Simon Miller (Cheetahs, 33′ – cynical play at the ruck); Wandile Mlaba (Stormers XXIII, 60′ – foul play, tip tackle); Xola Nyali (Stormers XXIII – cynical play, deliberate knock-on)

Teams:

Stormers XXIII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Divan Fuller, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Xola Nyali, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Danie Kruger, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Luan Botha, 20 Wandile Mlaba, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 Gino Cupido.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Juan Venter, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Tebogo Nkosi.
Replacements: 16 Juan Smal, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Cohen Jasper, 23 Jooste Nel.

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant referees: Juan de Bod, Charlwin Daries
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen