The Stormers took a comfortable win over the Sunwolves on Saturday, defeating the Japanese franchise by 27 points and leaving them still winless in this, their first Super RUgby season.
Final score
Stormers 46
Sunwolves 19
Two teams with vastly differing fortunes come together today when the Stormers host the Sunwolves in the second week of the Sunwolves’ tour of South Africa. Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 3am AEST.
You’d be hard pressed to find two sides with more contrasting starts to the season than the Stormers and the Sunwolves.
The Stormers have started the season with four wins and a loss and sit a top the Africa 1 conference, and in second place behind the Chiefs on the overall table.
They’ve had wins over the Bulls (33-9), the Cheetahs (20-10), the Brumbies (31-11) and the Jaguares (13-8), with the only blemish being a 13-18 loss to the Sharks in Round 3.
The Sunwolves on the other hand come into this match with a 0-5 record, the only team in the league to have lost every match they’ve played in so far, and unlike fellow new franchise the Jaguares, they’re still searching for an inaugural win.
It doesn’t look likely to come today. They’ve come close on occasion, particularly against the Cheetahs (31-32), but the Stormers are so far out of their league as to make the idea laughable.
Add into that the fact that the Stormers have the game on their home turf, and are coming into the match off the rest of the bye – and the Sunwolves in their second week on the road – and this one becomes not a question of whether the Stormers should win, but by how much.
That being said the Stormers cannot afford to write off their opponents and come in without giving them some respect. They Sunwolves have been competitive against South African teams lately with some close games and plenty of scoring.
If the Stormers play at the level they have so far this season however, they should have all the answers needed to win and win comfortably.
Prediction
The Stormers shouldn’t have any trouble winning this one.
Stormers by 18.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 3am AEST.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Nothing would amaze me more than Fleck winning it.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
That's the way it seems to Stormers/Bulls/Sharks supporters because they can get to the qfs or sfs, but they won't win with that gameplan. The Lions have the gameplan but the first three have so much of the playing stocks.
moaman
Roar Guru
Harry; Do you use the term "grand final" in South Africa or have you been frequenting the Roar too long? (genuine question); I believe it is league-influenced Australians that have begun to apply this misnomer to the Super Final.
Harry Jones
Expert
Fleck might just win it this year.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
That kind of winning can only go so far though: to the quarters or semis. Then it will come up short against a team with a multi-dimensional style of rugby. The real comparison is not with the Cheetahs, but with the Chiefs or Waratahs of old. The reason they're better than the Cheetahs isn't style as well, but the far greater talent in the Stormers' squad. I would bet that if the coaching staff swapped between the two teams the Stormers would not only win most of their matches but have a serious chance to win the competition. I'd say the Stormers would do well to punt Robbie Fleck and bring in Naka Drotske or another modern minded coach.
Lostintokyo
Guest
Maybe SANZAAR can put some bricks in the Sunwolves pockets to make it even more difficult for them.
Boris
Guest
Expected winners and score, no surprises like the other two games being much closer than expected.
Harry Jones
Expert
KPM-- Over the last 5 years, highest average attendance in Super Rugby Also, one of the top W/L records Cape fans prefer wins over "running" and losing like the Cheetahs But of course, they'd prefer both
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
There are certainly a lot of Stormers supporters judging by the crowd today. But why don't they demand a running game, and a coach to provide it?
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
Progress. Mission accomplished.
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
Not really. I like the Lions and have overall enjoyed the Cheetahs. I don't think the other teams lack ability at all, but I just don't understand the persistence with the gameplan they play. It just isn't multi-dimensional enough to win championships of any sort and the national team is stuck in the same rut. Frankly if South African teams played a modern style of rugby they might well dominate world rugby given playing numbers, support, money.
Harry Jones
Expert
It was probably equal to our total in the first 5-6 rounds!
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
Harry, isn't seven tries in a game the most we've scored in years?
Armand van Zyl
Roar Guru
Better leave it Harry. Kingplaymaker is not known to say anything good in the least concerning a South African side. Keep a weather eye on all these threads; he's ever-present and always tries to degrade any good performance from a South African team. His sole purpose seems to come on here and say something in the lines of "the opposing team is unlucky" or "the South African team does not deserve to win" I find it flattering that he always spends his time talking about our teams. But nontheless, you won't get a sensible or objective conversation from him.
Harry Jones
Expert
KPM, are you wondering whether the Stormers will make it to the grand final? They'd be distinct underdogs to do that, given their track record in QF/SF knockout matches, and extreme youth (except for Schalk Burger and Juan de Jongh, all the key players are 25 or less, and most are 23 or younger). So far, those season, the Stormers have used 3 game plans: - Territorial and set piece dominance - High phase/pass/carry - Counter-attack and kick over/behind
kingplaymaker
Roar Guru
I'm not sure the Sunwolves style was NBA, that's more the Jaguares: it was a running style but involved kicking for position too and not excessive off-loading. I'm not sure there was anything completely wrong with the tactics. Maybe it's just a case of a new team needing to get used to each other. Nor would I think anything special of the Stormers. I would be amazed if they get to the end of the competition with this kind of gameplan.
Harry Jones
Expert
The Sunwolves tried to play at a very high pace at Newlands, in an open match loosely administered by a happy Australian referee named Berry. This resulted in an attractive spectacle if the scoring pace of the NBA is your code of choice; but if airtight tackling and grinding suspense is your preference, you would've been disappointed. 50+ missed tackles, 10 or so tries, a dodgy red card, and really lovely cheerleaders. Stormers will take the win; having blooded 6 rookies. A magic try by Carel du Plessis' son Jean-Luc near the end... Africa 1: STO 23 BUL 14* CHE 7 SUN 3 (* game in hand)