Stormers edge spiteful Brumbies

The Stormers held on in the face of a late rally by the Brumbies to record a crucial 25-24 Super Rugby win at Newlands on Saturday.

The win saw the Stormers go back to the top of the South African conference and second on the global standings.

The losing bonus point allowed the Brumbies to reclaim their spot at the top of the Australian conference, which they conceded to the Waratahs earlier in the day.

But there could have been a different outcome in Cape Town had Brumbies flyhalf Christian Lealiifano not fluffed a simple conversion of a try by flank David Pocock with eight minutes left.

The Wallaby, Lealiifano, the third highest Super Rugby points scorer this season with 114, saw his attempt come back off the left post.

Rival goal-kicker and Stormers flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis contributed 20 points through five penalties, a conversion and a penalty.

The game was marred by the numerous off-the-ball incidents – most of which were instigated by a Brumbies team determined to lure the Stormers losing their cool.

Even after the hooter for full-time had blown Nic White saw fit to charged at and push Cheslin Kolbe around, despite the ball being long gone.

The number of times Brumbies captain Stephen Moore stormed in from way off, to escalate a situation when two players were holding each other at arms length, were disgraceful.

While there is nothing wrong with a bit of 'feeling' in the game, what the Brumbies did was worth an investigation.

It was their scrum dominance, and in the second half some impressive mauling, that allowed the Stormers to get back into the game after the Brumbies raced into a 16-3 lead inside the first half-hour.

It allowed Demetri Catrakilis kick penalty after penalty till it was a one-point (15-16) game.

Then, with the Brumbies a man down after Jordan Miler was sin-binned for a dangerous tip tackle, Schalk Burger wormed his way over to give his team the lead going into the final quarter – a lead they never conceded.

It was the fourth defeat in five outings for the former champions and skipper and hooker Stephen Moore could not hide his frustration.

"We have suffered too many narrow losses this season," said the veteran Wallaby.

"This was a very disappointing result. I knew it would be tough in Cape Town and am proud of the guys, but we came here to win rather than be gallant losers.

"The penalty count against us was unacceptable and the good goal-kicking of the Stormers allowed them back into the game."

Stormers skipper and loose forward Duane Vermeulen said: "We took a long look at ourselves after the Cheetahs match and the performance tonight was a massive step-up from Bloemfontein."

Brumbies began impressively and an opportunist try from wing Joe Tomane helped build a 13-point lead on the half-hour.

Tomane pounced on a poor grubber kick from Stormers centre Damian de Allende to outpace the defence and score a converted try.

Catrakilis trimmed the visitors' lead to 16-9 at half-time with penalties.

Another two Catrakilis penalties left only one point between the sides in the niggly game, before the home team went ahead for the first time.

Flank Schalk Burger scored a try soon after a dangerous tackle on him led to Brumbies replacement forward Jordan Smiler being sin binned.

Christian Lealiifano, who had earlier kicked two penalties and a conversion, slotted a penalty – before Catrakilis landed a drop-goal, leaving the game delicately poised.

With 10 minutes to go David Pocock found a huge hole in the Stormers line, from a line-out less than 10 metres out, and strolled over untouched. However, Lealiifano missed the sitter and the Stormers held onto a one-point lead – 25-24.

That came back to haunt him, as the Stormers held on for an important win.

Man of the match:  Christian Lealiifano had a great game, till he missed that sitter of a conversion. David Pocock was a menace as always, while Rory Arnold and Sam Carter worked hard. Duane Vermeulen was a rock for the Stormers till he left the field with an injury, Eben Etzebeth added important muscle, while the Stormers' scrums are also worth mentioning. Cheslin Kolbe did an admirable job at fullback. However, our award goes to Stormers flank Schalk Burger, who continues to improve with every game and is one of the form loose forwards in the competition.

The scorers:

For the Stormers:

Try: Burger

Con: Catrakilis

Pens: Catrakilis 5

DG: Catrakilis

For the Brumbies:

Tries: Tomane, Pocock

Con: Lealiifano

Pens: Lealiifano 3, Mogg

Yellow card: Jordan Smiler (Brumbies, 54 – foul play, tip tackle)

Teams:

Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Johnny Kotze, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Jean Kleyn, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.

Brumbies: 15 Jesse Mogg, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Robbie Coleman, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Ita Vaea, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 JP Smith.

Replacements: 16 Josh Mann-Rea, 17 Allan Alaalatoa, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Jarrad Butler, 21 Michael Dowsett, 22 James Dargaville, 23 Nigel Ah Wong.

Referee: Stuart Berry

Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Quinton Immelman

TMO: Shaun Veldsman