Eben Etzebeth
The Stormers scored a 39 / 31 win over the Cheetahs in an entertaining Super Rugby pre-season match at Newlands on Friday.
However, the Cape Town franchise will be concerned about injuries emerging from the match, with the real price of victory yet to be determined.
Two of their international locks, Argentinean Manuel Carizza and Springbok Eben Etzebeth, left the field before half-time and didn’t return.
Of the two injuries, Carizza’s looked the more serious.
Kobus van Wyk also picked up a calf injury, which does not look serious but would require a scan.
The hosts, in action at home for the first time in 2015, led by 29 / 10 at half-time – having scored four excellent tries in the first half.
Outside centre Juan de Jongh, who looked sharp, opened their account in the 5th minute and they never looked back from there – with hooker Scarra Ntubeni, inside centre Huw Jones (his 2nd in 2 games) and scrumhalf Nic Groom also crossing in the opening period.
Although the Stormers managed just 1 try in the 2nd half – by left-wing Dillyn Leyds – they were the better team in most facets of play, the hosts impressing in the scrums yet again and also on the ground and their backs looking incisive and skilful with ball in hand.
Flyhalves Demetri Catrakilis (4 conversions) and Kurt Coleman (2 penalties) missed just 1 kick between them to cap off a good match.
The Cheetahs will take heart from their 2nd-half performance, when they scored 3 tries to 1.
The Stormers will wrap up their pre-season preparations against the Boland Cavaliers at the Cape Town Stadium next Saturday’.
The Cheetahs play the Griffons on Wednesday in their final warm-up match.
Scorers:
DHL Stormers:
- Tries: Juan de Jongh (1), Scarra Ntubeni (1), Huw Jones (1), Nic Groom (1), Dillyn Leyds (1)
- Conversions: Catrakilis (4)
- Penalties: Coleman (2)
Toyota Cheetahs:
- Tries: Jean Cook (1), Cornal Hendricks (2), Tienie Burger (1)
- Conversions: Willie du Plessis (2), Francois Brummer (2)
- Penalties: Willie du Plessis (1)
Teams:
DHL 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 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements – from: Bongi Mbonambi, Alistair Vermaak, Wilco Louw, Jurie van Vuuren, Johnny Kotze, Neil Rautenbach, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Louis Schreuder, Kurt Coleman, Jean Kleyn, Robert du Preez, EW Viljoen
Toyota 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 Teboho Mohoje, 6 Jean Cook, 5 Carl Wegner, 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Replacements – from: Stephan Coetzee, Danie Mienie, Coenie Oosthuizen, Francois Uys, Lodewyk de Jager, Tienie Burger, Shaun Venter, Francois Brummer, Francois Venter, Raymond Rhule, Willie le Roux
Referee: Jaco van Heerden