The Stormers today answered the call from coach Coetzee to be more clinical in the set phases, and out muscled a lackluster Highlanders team by 33 unanswered points. 

Much has been written about the Stormers defense this year and this game proved that the hype was not speculative, but rather a new team dimension and characteristic.

The Highlanders came out firing and the Highlanders coach said that the game plan was to attack from solid first phase position, but soon found out that they ran into a solid brick wall, and got driven back.

I found it strange that the Highlanders did not take the points from kickable penalties earlier in the game when they knew they were playing against a team with the best defensive stats in the Super 14 so far.

Two of the Stormers tries were scored from set phases and this pleased coach Coetzee who said he is glad to have the monkey off his back, having achieved the first elusive bonus point by scoring 4 tries.

Coetzee again refused to single out any player and said it was a team effort, drawing away the attention that Habana got when he scored the bonus point try. Questions were raised at the media conference regarding the defensive roll that Fourie played the past few games. Coetzee immediately snubbed the suggestion that he is not making use of Fourie’s attacking abilities, saying that the players have the option to decide in a situation, what the best options is.

Coetzee also said that Duvenhage had an excellent game, but so did Januarie against the Waratahs. He said that the choice of team is directly relevant to the opposition and he will know who will be picked in what position, once they finalize the game plan.

Coetzee said that they will expect more physicality from the Hurricanes next week. He also said that Joe Peterson left the field because he sustained a “stinger” on his arm and that there were no injuries in the squad.

This was a game that had 5 points written all over it for the Stormers and I think it would be unwise to get over excited about taking 5 points from this game. The Highlanders next week will face the Bulls at home, where a full house of 5 points will be non negotiable for the Bulls. Having said that, it should be remembered that the Stormers outplayed a New Zealand side today by 33 points to 0, and that is an achievement in anybody’s book.

Next week it’s the Hurricanes with new challenges and more All Blacks. Well done to the Stormers on a fine win.