Stormers end losing streak at Loftus Versfeld and Kings Parks
For the current super rugby heavy weights, there is no stopping and it seems that they are determined to change everything that has been held against them before the start of 2011 season.
Stormers before their Saturday, April 2, 2011 game last beaten the Sharks in 2004 and John Plumtree was looking forward to the home field and fan advantage to end the Stormers Super XV 5 match winning streak.
For Sharks, this is now their third consecutive defeat in Super XV, after having starting the season with four consecutive win. For some it must be the Patrick Lambie’s factor and or others is just under preparation.
Sharks have now moved to third place in the South African conference with Bulls at second and Super XV leader Stormers at the first place. On combined table, they have moved from the 4th place to the 8th place after the 7 matches
and this is worrying times.
For Stormers other things besides the fact they are yet to lose a game in Super XV is that they were able to win at grounds which are not considered to be good hunting grounds for them. Stormers earlier defeated Bulls featuring few Springboks played on March
19, 2011 as they dominated the proceeding to finish the game 23 – 13.
This was the Stormers first win at the Loftus Versfeld since 2003. After that game no one expected them to win at Kings Park no matter in what form they were in and there were some speculations that soon their winning streak will end.
At the start of round 7, the focus shifted to the Kings Parks at Durban, The Sharks home turf as the Stormers record here is also not that impressive. Stormers last won a match here in 2004 however they started the match on high note in which they opened
their score on the 4th minute of the match. At the end of the allotted time the score read 16 – 6 in favour of the Stormers.
The most impressive thing about the Stormers in this season is that they have evolved as the season has progressed. They started the season by playing good defensive rugby with taking the pressure most of the time in their starting game and exerting lesser
pressure in their attack.
However, now they are taking the pressure as well as exerting the pressure equally and they have the players and bench strength to do so.
Most importantly, their strategy in all games particularly in this rain struck game was very impressive. They were able to create the scoring opportunities and at the same time they denied the opposition to do well. Sharks played full 40 minutes of second
half without scoring a single point.
Stormers are enjoying a dream run of form here and even the venues that have haunted them in past 6 – 7 years were not able to stop them. In such prime form and high confidence, they will take on the Reds who are currently leading the Australian Conference.
It remains to be seen whether the Reds can ease the Stormers pace or they fell to it. An interesting encounter and probably the biggest match of the Super XV so far.
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