Stormers pay price for win

The Stormers scored a 39-31 win over the Cheetahs in an entertaining Super Rugby pre-season match at Newlands on Friday.

However, the Cape Town franchise will be concerned about injuries emerging from the match, with the real price of victory yet to be determined.

Two of their international locks, Argentinean Manuel Carizza and Springbok Eben Etzebeth, left the field before half-time and didn't return.

Of the two injuries, Carizza's looked the more serious.

The hosts, in action at home for the first time in 2015, led by 29-10 at half-time – having scored four excellent tries in the first half.

Outside centre Juan de Jongh, who looked sharp, opened their account in the fifth minute and they never looked back from there – with hooker Scarra Ntubeni, inside centre Huw Jones (his second in two games) and scrumhalf Nic Groom also crossing in the opening period.

Although the Stormers managed just one try in the second half – by left-wing Dillyn Leyds – they were the better team in most facets of play, the hosts impressing in the scrums yet again and also on the ground and their backs looking incisive and skilful with ball in hand.

Flyhalves Demetri Catrakilis (four conversions) and Kurt Coleman (two penalties) missed just one kick between them to cap off a good match.

The Cheetahs will take heart from their second-half performance, when they scored three tries to one.

The Stormers will wrap up their pre-season preparations against the Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town Stadium next Saturday'.

The Cheetahs play the Griffons on Wednesday in their final warm-up match.

"It was a big step up from last week. We were very clinical in the first half and really stepped up." Allister Coetzee after tonight's win.

— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) January 30, 2015

The scorers:

For the Stormers:

Tries: De Jongh, Ntubeni, Jones, Groom, Leyds

Cons: Catrakilis 4

Pens: Coleman 2

For the Cheetahs:

Tries: Cook, Hendricks 2, Burger

Cons: Du Plessis 2, Brummer 2

Pen: Du Plessis

The teams:

Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Juan de Jongh (vice-captain), 12 Huw Jones, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Manuel Carizza, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements – from: Bongi Mbonambi, Alistair Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Jurie van Vuuren, Johnny Kotze, Neil Rautenbach, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Jean Kleyn, Robert du Preez, EW Viljoen.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Phillipus du Plessis, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Danie Dames, 10 Willie du Plessis, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz (captain), 7 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.

Replacements – from: Stephan Coetzee, Danie Mienie, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Uys, Lodewyk de Jager, Tienie Burger, Shaun Venter, Francois Brummer, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Willie le Roux.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

@THESTORMERS

@CheetahsRugby

A patched-up Catrakilis is back on for the DHL Stormers, but there are two other changes for the hosts with Jurie van Vuuren…

— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) January 30, 2015

… on for Eben Etzebeth at lock and EW Viljoen replacing Kobus van Wyk on the right-wing (both a bit earlier). #iamastormer #rugby

— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) January 30, 2015

Star centre Juan de Jongh in full flight during the DHL Stormers’ impressive 39-31 win over the… http://t.co/X47WL38qxJ

— DHL STORMERS (@THESTORMERS) January 30, 2015