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The Stormers’ suffocating defence squeezed the life out of the New South Wales’ Super 14 campaign with a 25-6 semi-final win in Cape Town on Saturday.
The result set up an all South-African final next weekend in Soweto, where the ladder-leading Bulls gave themselves a shot at a third title in four years with a 39-24 win over the Crusaders in the first semi-final.
Impressive Stormers centre Juan De Jongh scored the only try of the game in the first half.
Five-eighth Peter Grant converted and kicked six penalties, as South African referee Mark Lawrence punished the undisciplined Waratahs for numerous infringements in the scrums, lineouts and at the breakdown.
Poor discipline apart, the Tahs were unable to capitalise on the few occasions they did breach the Stormers’ renowned defence, especially in the second half, where hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, centre Tom Carter and winger Drew Mitchell could not find team-mates near the Stormers line.
“The Bulls have been the form side this season. They’ve led the way and we’ve been trying to follow in their footsteps,” Stormers captain Schalk Burger told reporters.
“We’ve made it to the final and anything can happen in a final.”
The Stormers lived up to their status as the competition’s best defensive team with another robust tackling display.
“It was typical semi-final stuff and it’s fantastic to get through it,” added Burger.
“They contested the ball pretty well at the breakdown but at the end of the day we won it and that’s all that matters.”
NSW captain Phil Waugh said it was a disappointing effort by his team and that the Waratahs had not taken their chances.
“We broke their line and turned the ball over numerous times,” the flanker said.
“In semi-final football you can’t do that. Their discipline was good and they kicked penalty goals and kept accumulating points.”
The visiting forwards made little ground through the pick and drive, while the in-form back three of full-back Kurtley Beale and wingers Mitchell and Lachie Turner had few opportunities.
Grant kicked two penalties to give the Stormers an early 6-0 lead, but the Waratahs drew level after thier pivot Berrick Barnes landed a penalty and a field goal.
NSW paid dearly for fluffing the restart after the field goal, with de Jongh stepping past prop Dan Palmer and Beale and Mitchell for the only five-pointer of a scrappy penalty-riddled affair.
Up 13-6 at the break, the more disciplined Stormers cruised to victory in the second half, with Grant booting four more penalties.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.