Salute to Winning Stormers Rugby 2020 season, as Chiefs stumble

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In a salute to the winning Stormers Rugby 2020 season results to date, the only unbeaten side in Super Rugby has established a near-perfect campaign and deserves a ‘pat on the back’..

Defeating the leading South African conference side of 2019, their 17-7 win over the Jaguares at home is the confidence boost the local and offshore fans desire. It will boost the belief that they are on the right path, to [possibly] a playoff berth and chance to add a maiden Super Rugby title.

While getting way ahead of ourselves, the side from Cape Town have four-from-four wins; this latest result was dominant. After three matches, by the time the Jaguares scored their only try, the Stormers had gone 224 minutes, without conceding any points. That strong run has them sitting on top of the Super Rugby table.

This winning Stormers rugby performance is something often New Zealand sides create. So it is fair to salute a South African team, and Robbie Fleck has done a great job to begin the season in a positive mindset.

Other results have gone the teams way too. The ACT Brumbies did ‘every other team a favour’ and defeated the Chiefs. They were up 0-19 after 40 minutes, and not even a Warren Gatland halftime speech could correct the home team’s outcome.

And with the Sharks managing a valuable win away in Melbourne, the presumptions of preseason are developing. Yes, the Crusaders are still a powerful consideration [after just one loss]. But if ever a team wanted to hold some form of advantage over any New Zealand conference team – after 4 rounds – the Stormers are standing on high.

Salute to Winning Stormers Rugby 2020 season

Including several of the games leading players, will assist your team towards its goals. The lineup of Herschel Jantjies, Damian Willemse, and the World Rugby Player of the Year, Pieter-Stef du Toit, then your confidence will run high. Although a narrow win last week in Johannesburg may have put a speed bump in their path, the continued winning Stormers rugby team are going great guns.

The Jaguares could not score any points until the 65th minute. That shows the defence for the Stormers is evident. Yet, consider the statistics; 26 missed tackles, an 81% success rate. Some might think that any other attacking team, could have made the Stormers pay. Not to say they were lucky that the ‘Jags have less strike power than the Hurricanes or the Crusaders, but it was fortunate that the South American side were unable to construct multiple attacking moments.

The highlights for the home team are in the consistency in maintaining a positive attitude. A key fact for some of the better-prepared teams. 56% territory allowed them to hold back the Jaguares, and this was a better performance than the 13-0 win over the Bulls. So improving over the early part of this season are key learnings that will assist in this team’s ongoing season.

Next week, they meet the Blues (again at home). The final game in a five-game sequence. A win here will prove any doubters wrong. The traveling Auckland team only just beat the Bulls in Pretoria, so will show some confidence but, are not the consistent side who will cause all that much concern for the Stormers. They will be focused on correcting the penalty count, missed tackles and in not allowing the opposition to hold 60% possession in the second half.

So improvements can still be made, but a salute to the Stormers is due.

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Super Rugby Round 4 ends Chiefs winning run

As mentioned earlier, the ACT Brumbies ended the Chiefs winning run. They picked apart the two-time champions, and it has given that side a tremendous boost.

Easily heading the Australian Conference, the third win of their 2020 campaign is going to cement their preseason status. A real effort, to win 14-26. It meant they withstood the second-half effort of the home side, and stopping them from earning a losing bonus point will assist the Hurricanes and Crusaders season.

The Guardian Australia reporter said it best. ‘Lolesio, Banks, Slipper, Samu all had blinders’. Tom Banks especially, is giving his side an attacking weapon from the back of the field. Even if the Brumbies are more used to scoring off a lineout drive, former league player Solomona Kata impressed with his try.

In the forwards, Wallabies player James Slipper was outstanding. He and fellow prop Allan Alaalatoa were hard to keep down, and that opening half was the catalyst for the Brumbies’ first win in Hamilton since 2007.

The Reds had a good win this week, yet after the Melbourne Rebels gave away the Sharks game – helping that SA conference team’s season tally to three wins. It will mean that the Brumbies appear to be the one Aussie team who can win both at home and away. Until the other teams can do that, most money will be on the Brumbies hosting a home semifinal in 2020.

 

“Main video credit – Rugby.AU.com YouTube site”

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