By Lucky Maree
Two hours before the Bulls versus Stormers match, a handful of Lions supporters at Emirates Park huddled in their raincoats to watch their team stagger to defeat – at Loftus Versveld it is nothing like that.
A crowd of about 43,000 spectators, the biggest crowd ever at a URC match, to watch the match of the weekend.
After 24 minutes the only scores are four penalties for Chris Smith one for Manie Libbok but that doesn’t mean it’s a dull match.
The first try comes after 30 minutes and it goes to the Stormers. Whether the scrumhalf passed the ball forward or not no longer matters as Marcel Theunissen scores a try without a single Bulls player even in the frame.
At the end of the first half, the one point lead (in favour of the Stormers) is a fair reflection of the match so far.
While the Bulls seem to have the advantage in the scrums, they get caught out behind the advantage line by good kicking from Libbok and the on-fire backline of the Stormers.
On 50 minutes Chris Smith, trapped inside his own in-goal area, does the best he can. He manages to get the ball up-field, but Dan du Plessis gets the balls in space – and Du Plessis in space is always a problem for the opposition.
He breaks two tackles to make the line break which eventually leads to a try for Junior Pokomela. The Stormers lead by eight.
It’s been a while since a player was sent off for a deliberate knock on but that particular nonsense is applied when David Kriel gets sent off after a genuine attempt at an intercept.
Morné Steyn replaces Chris Smith for his 150th appearance in the Bulls jersey. How much work he will have to do remains to be seen.
When Sibusiso Nkosi runs in a beautiful try for the Bulls (who are still with only 14 players) Steyn does what he is famous for. He brings the Bulls within one point of the Stormers.
Libbok strikes a perfect snap drop goal, increasing the Stormers’ lead to four slender points. Whether that is the right option remains to be seen.
For two very long minutes, the Stormers defend on their try line until they eventually get a penalty. The Stormers get the lineout with one minute to go but when Springbok hooker Joseph Dweba gets the throw in wrong, the Bulls are back on attack.
The clock is well into the red when the Bulls get one lineout on the five yard line. They win the ball . . . but then the turnover.
Libbok kicks the ball into the stands. Stormers score a victory that will be celebrated in Cape Town well into the night and will be remembered for a long time.
As an interesting side-tussle, three dark horses for that problematic Springbok flyhalf position are on the field today. Chris Smith and Manie Libbok are both knocking on the Springboks door while Curwin Bosch, doing a good job in the Lions vs Sharks a match with very little spark, is also in the picture.
Bulls (1 try) 19-23 (2 tries) Stormers.
Pictured above: The Stormers taking on the Blue Bulls
Image source: @THESTORMERS
