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The pre-game quote that fired Stormers to win over Munster

Referee Andrea Piardi speaks with DHL Stormers captain Salmaan Moerat, left, and Munster captain Tadhg Beirne during the United Rugby Championship match between Munster and DHL Stormers at Thomond Park in Limerick. (Photo By Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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There is now just one unbeaten team left in the BKT URC with the DHL Stormers having taken the spoils in an epic top-of-the-table clash with Munster Rugby.

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Both teams had won their opening five league matches, so something had to give at Limerick’s Thomond Park.

It looked as though Munster were going to capitalise on home advantage when they led 21-6 at half-time after running in three tries.

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But the Stormers racked up 21 unanswered points after the break to win 21-27.

The game finished three tries apiece, but it was the goal-kicking of the league’s top points scorer Jurie Matthee that ultimately proved the difference.

The Player of the Match award went to the visitors’ flanker Paul de Villiers who said: “We knew we were going to be tested. Playing Munster in Limerick is a massive challenge.

“Being behind, we had to really dig deep and fight back. There were a few things that hadn’t gone our way, but the way we reacted to it and responded in that second half, hats off to the team.

“I read a quote before the game of someone saying ‘I believe in belief’ and I think that’s what we had and showed. Even though it was tough at times, that belief really came through. It was surely a team effort.

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“It’s good for us building and for the rest of the season.”

It’s a win that puts John Dobson’s Stormers two points clear at the top of the table a third of the way through the regular season.

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unknown 286 days ago

Fair play to Stormers, deserved winners. 2nd half was tough on us but shows where the work needs to be done now.

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Eric Elwood 288 days ago

The win was built on the scrum. Dobson showed a ruthless streak by subbing on 5 forwards early in the second half when Munster’s relentless attack was continuing unabated. That transformed the match and it suddenly appeared that Munster’s lead would not be enough.

Coombes had a brain fart trip leading to yellow which didn’t help and Crowley’s wrap around pass leading to an intercept try for Stormers could have been read by a class of toddlers. That said Stormers didn’t have the rub of the green until then so a deserved victory if Munster will be kicking themselves over the 0-21 second half score.

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NoLongerARuck 8 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

Alot of people have talked about how the AB's are making progress and getting closer to the Boks. Its also important to ask where the net gain has been. In 4 games under Razor the AB's attack failed dismally and struggled to score tries. The Boks outscored them comprehensively. Even so the All Blacks led for long periods in Joburg and Cape Town in 24. They lost each game by one score. They led all the way in Auckland and led for a quarter of the match in Wellington. Razors team always lost control in the final quarter of matches against the boks where the Boks bench completely overpowered them.

Under Rennie the AB's have scored plenty of tries, more than the Boks, they have rediscovered their attacking threat but they have regressed in other areas. Their scrum has totally capitulated, their lineout has been hammered, they are turning the ball over more at break down and in the tackle. They are making mistakes within their attacking template that has cost them and presented the Boks opportunities and so their defence has suffered with the Boks making hay in the last 3 games outscoring them in terms of tries and pts during that period. They have conceded 2 and 3 score leads in the last 3 matches heading into the final quarter. At Cape Town it was 16 points, Soweto 12 pts and in the US 15 pts. The Boks established control of Rennies team earlier and led for longer with AB's forced to chase games. They won the second half in Ellis Park comprehensively and the final quarters in the next 2 matches matches but little else illustrating the lack of control for the AB's.



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