Scottish verdict of the Stormers: Best off-load team around
The Stormers were paid the ultimate compliment by the opposition at the weekend, after they moved another step closer to the United Rugby Championship play-offs and a place in the European Cup next season.
The Cape Town-based franchise is now sitting pretty in second place on the standings, after they delivered a flashy performance against the Glasgow Warriors in Cape Town at the weekend to snatch a bonus-point 32-7 victory in the process.
Warriors coach Danny Wilson was full of praise for the home team in his post-match assessment.
After a powerful opening quarter – with a Jack Dempsey try giving them a 7-0 lead – the Scottish visitors made too many errors and allowed their hosts to take charge.
“We gave a very good team too many good field position opportunities,” Wilson told a post-match media briefing.
He did not hold back in his praise of the opposition.
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“They are one of best off-loading teams I have come across.
“Their off-loads stuck really well and caused us major problems.”
He said that despite a poor second half – trailing just 7-13 at the break and 7-25 on the hour mark – it was the last try that hurt the most.
Evan Roos went over in the 79th minute to secure the bonus point that helped propel the Stormers up the standings into second place.
“It was a very frustrating second half,” Wilson said, adding: “I don’t want to take anything away from a very good Stormers team that played some very good rugby in the second half.”
He described the Rikus Pretorius try in the 34th minute as a “huge moment” in the game.
There’s vision and then there’s this guy. He has an eye for gaps that nobody else knows are there.#iamastormer #dhldelivers @Vodacom #URC pic.twitter.com/7uBcdkapJQ
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 24, 2022
“It was always going to be a tight game, we felt. It was a tight first half.”
However, they failed to stay in the fight.
“There were positive in the first half, but not many after the break,” the Warriors coach said.
The Scottish side also suffered a few crucial injuries – with South African-born wing Kyle Steyn (Achilles) and centre Sam Johnson (ankle) the main concerns.
Glasgow head to Pretoria next week for a crucial Friday showdown with the Bulls.
The Warriors dropped out of the top four to sixth place (on 50 points) and could be overtaken by the eight-placed Bulls (48 points).
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* (More Stormers offloads below …)
The DHL @THESTORMERS are in THAT mood again tonight 👀@Vodacom #URC #STOvGLA #NorthvsSouth #SSRugby @URCOfficial_RSA pic.twitter.com/AKpwR7UkO0
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) April 22, 2022
I want a new World Rugby rule, today.
Offload like this = Automatic Bok selection.#URC | @THESTORMERS | @WorldRugby pic.twitter.com/GBdnNy0Ccx
— Saffas Abroad Rugby (@SaffasRugby) April 23, 2022
Disgusting offload by Gelant 🥵 #URC | @THESTORMERS pic.twitter.com/CcEYVSePMI
— Saffas Abroad Rugby (@SaffasRugby) April 22, 2022
Those hands by the Stormers 😍
Leolin Zas finishes off a fantastic try! #URC | @THESTORMERS pic.twitter.com/aGRwxP3ta4
— Saffas Abroad Rugby (@SaffasRugby) April 22, 2022
