The Stormers beat the Cheetahs 30-13 to go second on the Super Rugby Unlocked table after a comfortable win at Newlands, Cape Town.
The Stormers outscored the Cheetahs three tries to one to claim a deserved Super Rugby derby win, leapfrogging the Sharks on the log after an inspired performance by Damian Willemse at first receiver.
It was a calm, composed display by the Cape side, while the same cannot be said about the Bloemfontein team, whose approach was more loose and scattergun.
Herschel Jantjies, Juarno Augustus, and Warrick Gelant all scored for the Stormers.
Willemse, who set-up Gelant’s late score, kicked two penalties, three conversions, and a drop-goal for a match-haul of 15 points.
The 22-year-old playmaker almost collected a full house after collecting an 80th-minute yellow card for cynical play to go with his conversions, penalties, drop-goal, and assist.
Tian Schoeman converted Rosco Specman’s second-half try and added two penalties, but it was not enough as the Cheetahs limped to a sorry defeat at the famous old ground.
The victory lifts John Dobson’s men above the Sharks into second place, two points behind the Bulls, who are on a bye-week.
Defeat leaves Hawies Fourie’s side in fourth place, five behind the third-placed Sharks.
Jantjies try and the boot of Willemse sees the Stormers take a 13-3 lead into the shed
The Stormers dominated the first half, keeping the Cheetahs pinned inside their half.
Jantjies and Willemse’s kicking out-of-hand was accurate, keeping their team on the front foot.
The electric scrummy opened the scoring in the sixth minute – with a try reminiscent of the late, great Joost van der Westhuizen – after catching Malcolm Jaer napping at a touchline ruck.
The scrumhalf looked up, saw Jaer looking the wrong way, and darted down the sideline to score. Willemse added the extras.
The visitors were their own worst enemy, making numerous handling mistakes, losing defensive lineouts inside their 22, and their pack got scrummed.
Super Rugby Unlocked Round 6 Video Highlights: Stormers v Cheetahs, Newlands, Cape Town
Frans Malherbe, Scarra Ntubeni, and Steven Kitshoff pulverised the opposition’s scrum, leading to Charles Marais being substituted after 21 minutes following two beastings.
Stormers skipper Kitshoff, after a couple of scrum-penalties, opted to take the points – Willemse made no mistake from in front.
The Free State side slowly found some territory and possession.
They went close after a counter-attack by Specman and Clayton Blommetjies, but the next attack saw substitute prop Boan Venter knock-on trying to pick-and-drive over from close range.
On 32 minutes, the visitors did manage to get some points when Schoeman put the Bloemfontein side on the scoreboard.
With seconds remaining before the break, and the home team going nowhere, Willemse launched a monster drop-goal from 40 metres out; the ball was still on the up when it sailed through the posts.
Stormers extend advantage through Augustus, canceling out Schoeman’s early second-half penalty, but the Cheetahs stay in touching distance after Specman solo stunner in the last quarter
Fourie’s side won their first scrum-penalty at the beginning of the second half, which Schoeman slotted.
The joy was short-lived though as the Stormers scored after the restart. Augustus finished off a sweeping attack that combined both forwards and backs.
Willemse added the extras to increase the lead to two converted tries.
The Free State men missed a guilt-edged chance when Jaer knocked-on near the goal-line under no pressure.
Another opportunity seemed to be lost when the Cheetahs knock-on on the Stormers try-line; however, a sensational solo effort by Sevens specialist Specman, brought the visitors back into the game.
Specman, from deep inside his half, gathered the bouncing ball and booted a high chip-kick forward. He chased and got the bounce of the ball, which wrong-footed Willemse.
The 31-year-old winger toed the ball forward, gathered, and finished expertly in the corner before being tackled out. It was simply stunning.
Schoeman’s touchline conversion made it 20-13 with less than 15 minutes to play.
Kitshoff, who was immense in the front row for his team, won another scrum-penalty near the line.
He decided to take the points and open up a two-score lead going. Willemse duly added his second penalty goal.
The game was over five minutes from time when some Willemse magic put Gelant away for the game-clincher.
Final Score: Stormers 30 (13) Cheetahs 13 (6)
Scorers
Stormers
Tries – H. Jantjies, Augustus, Gelant
Pen – Willemse (2)
Con – Willemse (3)
Drop – Willemse
Cards – Willemse (Yellow, 80′)
Cheetahs
Tries – Specman
Pen – Schoeman (2)
Con – Schoeman
Drop –
Cards –
Match Officials
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Ref 1: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Ref 2: Egon Seconds
TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salmans
Teams
Stormers
15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Marcel Theunissen, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain)
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Ben-Jason Dixon, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Michal Hazner
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Malcolm Jaer, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela (captain), 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Charles Marais
Replacements: 16 Boan Venter, 17 Marnus van der Merwe, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Chris Smit
