The intrepid South Islanders head on to Cape Town this week, where they’ll meet a resolute home side determined to avenge an unexpected loss last week.The Stormers got off to a great start with two wins, but really let themselves down against the Brumbies. They’ll want to score a good victory over the Highlanders to get their campaign back on track, because it only gets harder from here.
The New Zealanders are a pretty handy side this year too, though and the Cheetahs found, to their detriment that anyone who underestimates the Highlanders this year are going to face an uphill battle.
Kick-off at Newlands is at 17h05
Stormers: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Juan de Jongh, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Ricky Januarie, 21 Lionel Cronjé, 22 Sireli Naqelevuki.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Kenny Lynn, 12 Jason Shoemark, 11 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 John Hardie, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Mat Berquist, 22 James Paterson.
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Marc van Zyl (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Tweet
Go Stormers!!!!!!!!!!
My LMS life depends on you 😕
5 points or bust.
Fair 26°C
Wind: From Southwest at 26 kmph
Chance of Precip. 0%
@McLovin (Comment 3) : Stress level – High
Change for perspiration – 100%
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 4) : Pint filled with ice, vodka & tonic.
Chance of inebriation – 100%
If I was a Kiwi/Aussie rugby player then chance of inebriation followed by arrest & incarceration – 90% 😈
@McLovin (Comment 5) :
😆
Nicely written Rob….well put…definitely in witha chance here ?
Liebenberg flu. Fourie in at 2.
Go Stormers!!! Win by 12!!!
Sir Eli in for Gio. 🙄
0-0
H’landers going for goal.
Missed.
Stormers penalty.
Pietersen slots it.
😳 forgot about this game.
Was out riding bicycle with Kette.
Go Highlanders. 😉
3-0
9min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : Riding bicycle? Is that what you folks call it nowadays. 😛
Is it just me or does the Stormers girls always look slutty?
Penalty in front Stormers.
6-0
12min
@FireTheLooser (Comment 19) : It’s just you. 😉
@McLovin (Comment 18) :
Everyone knows that “nap” is code for THAT, So We’ve had to change the code. 😛
Try!
From almost not starting to being the 1st try scorer for Fourie. 🙂
Fourie scores.
Hooker Fourie not the world’s best 13 Fourie.
LMS for this game.
Vodacom Stormers 16
Highlanders 1
GO HIghlanders!!!!!!!!! 😛
13-0
16min
Whats LMS stats for this game? ❓
Sir Eli very energetic. 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : 👿 👿
Penalty men in maroon.
Go for line out and knock-on.
Plenty of people with high-vis onderbaadjies on the field.
We can’t really complain about home town decisions if we see calls like that.!?!?!?!?!?!??! 😯
Lawrence asks the TJ if he saw the number of the player who high tackled and the TJ says no. Then the replay shows the tackle being made 5m infront of the TJ with the number 13 facing directly towards him. 😕
Maroons go for drop…. and miss.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : Not impressed 😳
2nd free kick conceded by Stormers at scrum time.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : 😯 maybe the TJ is avenging the Sharks match
@KSA Shark © (Comment 36) : That’s a minor in comparison to the Aus ref from earlier. 🙄
Also not the 1st nor the last TJ to make the same mistake.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 38) :
I don’t think it would have been a yellowcard or anything or else the Ref would have spoken to the Captain, but still it IS frustrating
Flouw gives away a stupid penalty. 👿
@McLovin (Comment 41) :
I agree even Waugh addmitted they got away with stuff at the end. 😳
Dinner back later
De Jongh will have to learn to pass on the odd occasion. 🙄
Stormers going for 3 points.
Blondie lands it.
16-0
33min
Sounds like we are well and truely under the pump ❓
Blondie knocks on 30cm from the line. 👿 👿 👿
Strong run from Kallie Woekie.
I dont think my FL is doing great this weekend.
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 54) : I need some tries man!
Half Time.
WTF????????????????
If a Player lashes out at the referee like that he deserves a F%^&*EN RED CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!
Burger better be cited for that or there is absolutely NO JUSTICE in Rugby and SAffas must NEVER moan about being victimised again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back to dinner.
Wow, Burger having a go at the ref. That could have been real ugly for Schalk, might still be.
Halftime
Stormers 16 – 0 H’Landers
Honest mistake from Schalk. He was being harassed by Cowan, probably thought the ref was one of the Highlanders. Barely touched him.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 58) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 57) : more details please ❓ ❓
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 61) : Schalk touched the ref’s arm/shoulder by mistake. 🙄
@McLovin (Comment 62) : playfully or murderously 😛
Highlanders fairly fit side…if they can score first ???
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 63) : Defensively. Ref touched him while Cowan was trying to wrestle with him. Much ado about nothing.
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 63) : Just about ripped his head off, one could see the intent in Schalks eyes as he swung his fist at the ref…..as reported by leading kiwi newspaper….
Not too serious, but still could have landed him in serious trouble…
@McLovin (Comment 65) : Guaranteed though, if it was a kiwi or ozzie ref Schalk would’ve received a red card and be expecting a call from their lawyers…..them ozzie/kiwi refs are touchy like that.
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 61) :
Unlike Mc is trying to make you believe @McLovin (Comment 62) : 😛
Burger was having a Jersey tug with a highlander and Lawrence came and said something. Burger then shouted at Lawrence and push/slapped Lawrence on the upper arm.
Picture two guys standing chest to chest in a bar and one guy then steps back and shoves the other guy in the chest with both arms saying “piss off man” Well Burgers arm did the same action except his other arm was holding the highlander and he pushed lawrence on the shoulder.
@McLovin (Comment 65) :
NO WAY!!!!!!! He was shouting at the ref nothing defensive about it.
The Youtube clip will be up soon i am sure.
Thank you guys, all of you.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 68) : Lawrence crept up on him from behind. Startled him, but by the time Schalk realised it was a ref he back off and apologised.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 67) :
Where the ref comes from has nothing to do with it. This is Rugby not soccer, you don’t lay a hand on the ref.
All i can think is Lawrence thought it was a stray arm while Burger was grappling with Cowan.
When the replay from the viewers angle is shown to him he will no doubt feel it should have been a red card.
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 70) : You still at work/prison?
@KSA Shark © (Comment 69) : He was shouting at Cowan. 😈
In all seriousness. As a player, never, ever, ever, ever, lay your hands on the ref. Ever. Never ever.
@McLovin (Comment 71) : From the way I see it and I have rewound about 4 times now.
He is looking AT Lawrence, has another go at Cowan with his arm looks back at lawrence and then shoves him.
End of his season IMO.
@McLovin (Comment 75) : yep, just imagine the repercussions had it been an overseas ref….. the whole Piet van Zyl saga would have been dug up……I shudder to think
@McLovin (Comment 75) :
No obviously there are times when you touch the ref, but this is not soccer, you don’t shout at the ref, chest up to him shove him and things like that.
This was a blantant shove on the ref and if i can lip read he says “F&*K …” as he shoves
@FireTheLooser (Comment 73) : yip 🙁 retail’s a bitch 😈
@KSA Shark © (Comment 76) : End of his season. 😯 I’ll eat my slippers if that happens. In fact, I reckon nothing’s going to come of it. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 78) : He didn’t ‘chest up to the ref’. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 78) : the way I read it, is that mr hulk is in big shyte 🙄 🙄
Players swear on the field all the time.
EITHER way there will be video of this flying around soon. then everyone can see for themselves.
@McLovin (Comment 83) : 😛
Play becoming a bit loose now.
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 82) : Naah, he’s just lucky it’s Mark Lawrence who seems to harbor a soft spot for the SA players and teams.
All jokes on a stick, back to the rugby. 😈
Score still 16-0?? Time remaining??
Lawrence certainly one of the better refs out there. 😎
[email protected]Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 89) :
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 89) : Yip. 20min to go.
Burger try!!
i was about to ask how long this game has seen scoreless. 😆
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 89) : 21 – 0 kick to come
Burger scores!!!
After a rolling maul of about 200m. 😉
Joe misses the conversion
Stormers 21 – 0 Landers
61min
@McLovin (Comment 90) : I like Lawrence, he’s one of the very few refs who treats the players with respect and not like they’re school boys.
2 more tries needed.
My margin is 12 👿 not 21
@McLovin (Comment 95) : 200m, i like that! 😆
Shimange on the field. 😯
Schalk having a good game.
We can’t get nilled 😡
Fat mechanic also on the park now. So is the giant Gio.
@McLovin (Comment 102) : May as well enjoy it sounds like it will be his last of the season !
@McLovin (Comment 102) : If Jannie slapped the ref today i’d also have said he had a good game….
Stromers over the line. Held up.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 105) : No chance. 😈
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 103) : last week you told me not to pick the Stormers, thank you, but I did 😈 😉
@McLovin (Comment 108) : 😆
Try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not quite 200m this time but another rolling maul, probably 75m. 😉
Come on Highlanders! I want a margin/bonus point
26-0
70min
Come Stormers!!!! One more try needed.
You guys know what would be fun………
Only one win for the kiwi teams….Go Cheetahs ❗
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 109) : Very risky practice going against my advice …i was anticipating ‘The Eye Gouger’ to get his marching orders would have been a very different game !
@FireTheLooser (Comment 116) : Cheetahs could easily do it !
Streamers still looking for their bonus point try?
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 117) :
who will lose next week? I’ll pick them 😉
Kallie high tackle. 👿
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 103) :
Seems like you are going to. 🙁
Some more replacements on. Hard to keep track.
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 118) : Yep, but they could just as easily hand the Canes a bonus point win…..never know with those guys, they only ever look good in the local derby’s.
Maroon men very close now.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 106) :
Bwhahahahahhahaa
@KSA Shark © (Comment 122) : Hiding probably not as bad as next week !
If the Free State pussycats win, I’ll be a very happy man.
The ONE person who picked the Highlanders has already lost a lifeline so will be dead in 6minutes time.
Nice knowing you bud, see ya soon when i’m dead. 😆
Lionel Cronje looks up at the wall he is about to run into and he then knocks on. 😳
Play a bit frantic.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 129) : how many dead and how many without lifelines for the weekend thus far
Oh well, looks like another 4 pointer. Not really good enough, but a win is a win is a win I suppose.
🙂 @Hertford Highlander (Comment 127) :
Bulls will be out to keep their 50 average going i think.
Come on H’landers! Score some points!
@McLovin (Comment 133) : You guys are one step up from the Sharks, we’re still looking for that famed first win of the season…..should have had it today though.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 134) : 😈 We beat them last year !
90sec to go.
@McLovin (Comment 133) : There you go boy, you got the try we should have had this morning 😀
Habana!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 134) : will I be picking Bulls then 💡
5 points. 😎 😎 😎 😎 😎
@FireTheLooser (Comment 139) : And I picked them by 24 on SB. Only one. No one picked more. 😎
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 132) :
At the Start of the weekend.
40 still alive with a lifeline.
71 still alive with no lifeline.
29 out of the game
Now after this game.
31 still alive with a lifeline.
58 still alive with no lifeline.
51 out of the game.
Final score
33-0
Thanks lads…. i’m off with my tail between my legs ! 😥
@McLovin (Comment 142) : 👿 I wanted a margin point
FULL TIME
Stormers 33 – 0 Highlanders
@Hertford Highlander (Comment 146) :
😆
Cheers. 🙂
@KSA Shark © (Comment 144) : 22 dead, does that qualify has disastrous
😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 144) : next games picks??
Log Updated.
Stormers move to 3rd. (Well Done)
Cheetahs can do us all a favour tonight.
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 151) :
Check the next thread 🙂
@Jarson’s (X + V) (Comment 147) : All mine.
Go my boys!!!
@Morné (Comment 155) :
Hey dude give the sour pusses a hard time on your site this week, you got your BP. 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 156) :
Oh and please don’t tell me I am swearing 😆