Stormers beat Cheetahs in trial but pick up injuries

The Stormers started their preparations for the 2015 Super Rugby season with a 39-31 victory over the Cheetahs at at Newlands on Friday evening.

The Stormers went out to a 29-10 lead by half time havong scored four tries in the first half.

Outside centre Juan de Jongh 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 Leds – they were the better team on the night in most facets of play, the hosts impressing at scrum-time 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 night in front of a crowd of just under 9,000 at Newlands.

The Stormers will wrap up their pre-season preparations against the Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town Stadium next Saturday (February 7).

Stormers coach Allister Coetzee was satisfied with the result.

“It was a big step up from last weekend. We were very clinical in the first half and stepped up across the board, ” said Coetzee afterwards.

“We scrummed well, our breakdown work was good and we exited well… I thought our physicality was good too. “

The one negative saw three key players leave the field with injuries.

Locks Eben Etzebeth (blow to his chest) and Manuel Carizza (shoulder) and wing Kobus van Wyk (calf muscle) all left the field in the first half, but more will be known about their fitness once they have undergone medical examinations.

“They all need to undergo scans, ” said Coetzee, “we won’t be guessing until we see our medical reports and we certainly won’t be panicking right now. “

Final Score Stormers 39 (29) Cheetahs 31 (10)

Scorers

Stormers
Tries: De Jongh, Ntubeni, Jones, Groom, Leyds
Cons: Catrakilis 4
Pens: Coleman 2

Cheetahs
Tries: Cook, Hendricks 2, Burger
Cons: Du Plessis 2, Brummer 2

Match Official
Referee: Jaco van Heerden

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 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Johnny Kotze, 21 Neil Rautenbach, 22 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 23 Louis Schreuder, 24 Kurt Coleman, 25 Jean Kleyn, 26 Robert du Preez, 28 EW Viljoen.

Cheetahs

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

Replacements: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Lodewyk de Jager, 21 Tienie Burger, 22 Shaun Venter, 23 Francois Brummer, 24 Francois Venter, 25 Raymond Rhule, 26 Willie le Roux.

With thanks to the Stormers for the report