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Cardiff the latest side thrashed in South African rout
By PA
Stormers ran in six tries to deal Cardiff’s hopes of reaching the United Rugby Championship play-offs a heavy blow with a 40-3 win in Cape Town.
The South African side were ruthless on the counter-attack in the rearranged clash at the Danie Craven Stadium and took a firm grip with three slick tries in the first half.
Ruhan Nel, Leolin Zas and Manie Libbok all crossed as the hosts opened up a 19-3 half-time lead before Junior Pokomela, Evan Roos and Rikus Pretorius went over in the second period. Libbok converted four for a 13-point individual haul while Tim Swiel added another.
Cardiff were ragged by the end as Stormers repeatedly cut loose but it was the Welsh side who started the better. The visitors applied considerable pressure in the opening 15 minutes but an early Jarrod Evans penalty was all they gained from it.
The opening try came against the run of play as Stormers seized a chance after Cardiff conceded a penalty.
The ball was spread right by long passes from Libbok and Warrick Gelant before wing Zas kicked forward and gathered himself to put Nel over on the inside.
Another Stormers try followed after Evans knocked on under a high ball. Zas again showed great improvisation to hack on and he was presented with a simple scoring opportunity after Seabelo Senatla cleverly palmed back into his possession.
The hosts then took complete control with another superb counter-attacking try. Gelant’s kick was claimed by Libbok, who then charged forward and exchanged passes with Herschel Jantjies to wrongfoot the defence and touch down.
The early part of the second half was a stop-start affair but Stormers regained their stride around the hour-mark and ran away with the match with three tries in quick succession.
They secured a bonus point after Cardiff lost possession in front of their own posts and Roos quickly put them on the attack.
Damian Willemse carried the ball close to the line and offloaded for Pokomela to cross.
Roos then got in on the act himself soon after by breaking a tackle and racing clear.
Pretorius then capped a fine afternoon for the Stormers with a long-range score after Cardiff turned over the ball inside their own half.
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Latest Comments
But he chose rightly or wrongly to play for Tonga. If he wanted to play for the ABs why didn’t he hold off?
Go to comments“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”
Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.
“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”
I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.
“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”
I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.
“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”
I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!
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