Stormers v Bulls: Stars and flops of the URC quarterfinal

The Stormers kept their perfect record over the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship intact as a top performance saw them clinch a 33-21 win in their quarterfinal clash at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.

The Stormers and Bulls managed three converted tries each, but the hosts punished the ill-discipline of the visitors with four penalties added to their total to give them a comfortable win in the end.

ALSO READ: North/South derby reaches climax when Bulls meet Stormers in URC quarters

Citizen man-of-the-match: Manie Libbok

Here are the stars and flops of what was an absorbing quarterfinal.

Stars

Stormers

Manie Libbok

The Stormers pivot showed exactly why he should be on the plane to France with the Springboks later in the year with a superb all-action performance. Libbok was part of most of the brilliant attacking work done by the home side in the match, with him hitting the line at pace, making breaks and putting players away.

He also enjoyed a flawless kicking performance, with some cracking out of hand kicking backing up a perfect night that saw him slot three conversions and four penalties for a personal haul of 18 points for the match.

Dan du Plessis

Stormers centre Dan du Plessis has enjoyed a superb season for the Cape Town side and if it wasn’t a World Cup year he might have found himself in contention for spot in an extended Springbok squad ahead of the international season. He was once again in top form for the hosts in the match, with his direct running a constant threat throughout.

His defence was also superb, with a try saving tackle in the second half keeping the Bulls in check as they tried to fight back into the match.

Deon Fourie

The Stormers stealing machine Deon Fourie showed his value on his return from injury. Having missed the past few games with the Stormers struggling at the breakdown, the hosts were happy to have Fourie back for the knockout clash.

He only featured for 45 minutes, as they managed his return to play, but he was a menace at the breakdown throughout his time on the field, stealing a number of balls and keeping the Bulls players in check.

Bulls

Kurt-Lee Arendse

Springbok star Kurt-Lee Arendse was once again the Bulls star performer with a typical action packed showing from the winger. He was constantly their best attacking threat, with some scintillating runs throughout the match, but unfortunately received little help from his fellow backs.

It was unfortunate that he had to end on the losing side but Arendse can hold his head up high after another top showing.

Bulls defence

The Bulls defence, particularly in the first half of the match, was brilliant with them keeping the Stormers in check for most of the half.

In the end all three of the Stormers tries were scored by earning space out wide, but the fact that the Bulls limited them to just three tries over the match was impressive. Their maul defence in particular was a highlight with them not allowing the hosts a single maul try.

ALSO READ: First take: Stormers all class and power as Bulls blown away

Flops

Stormers maul

The Stormers maul was a massive flop for the home team in the match as despite a number of chances from lineouts deep in the Bulls 22m, they could not get over the line once. Particularly in the first half when they had four lineouts on the Bulls 5m, with two of those while the Bulls were down to 14-men with flank Cyle Brink yellow carded, the Stormers were repelled each time which kept the visitors in the match at the break.

Johan Goosen

It was a golden opportunity for Johan Goosen to show the Springbok selectors that he still had what it takes ahead of the international season, but it ended up being the opposite.

Goosen will have wanted to prove that he could go to the World Cup as a backup flyhalf, but he may have been unsettled by his shift to fullback after the late injury to Canan Moodie. He then lost a number of kicking battles in an average first half, and was stretchered off early in the second half after a nasty collision with a Stormers player.

Canan Moodie injury

The late change to the Bulls starting side after Bok wing Canan Moodie failed a late fitness test, may have played a big part in their early match struggles. They had to shift their backline around, with Johan Goosen moving to fullback, Kurt-Lee Arendse shifting to the wing and Chris Smith coming in at flyhalf.

Moodie has also been one of the Bulls best performers in an average season, so his loss was keenly felt, especially after some strong performances from him over the past few weeks.