JDV: Bitter Pill To Swallow
Jul 28,2012
Stormers captain Jean de Villiers expressed his disappointment after the Cape-based franchise crashed and burned in their Super Rugby semi-final on Saturday.
The much-vaunted hosts succumbed 26-19 to a spirited Sharks side, who held off a desperate fight back from the Stormers to set up an unlikely final against the Chiefs in Hamilton on Saturday (09:35 SA Time).
"It is going to take a while to get over this one," conceded a dejected De Villiers.
"We can only blame ourselves. We had 80 minutes to prove that we are good enough and in the end we were short."
De Villiers said his side had let their supporters, who packed Newlands to the rafters, down with their second home semi-final heartbreak in as many seasons.
"That's what makes it tough ... the disappointment for the supporters.
"We let them down by not winning this one.
"It is tough when you get such good support here, week in and week out and you can't pay them back with some sort of cup to show for it.
"As I said, it is going to be tough to get over this one.
"I don't think we ever stopped trying, but we were short."
The Stormers and Springbok skipper was gracious in defeat and wished his countrymen well for the decider.
"If there is a team you can't bet against to win this thing it is the Sharks, so all the best for next week and we will definitely be behind them."
Comments (5)
Jul 29, 2012 at 12:43:04
I hate t when a team does not give credit, everywhere is Cape Town today you just hear, ja the Sharks were lucky becasue the Stormers dd not pitch up. That is utter BS!!! The Stormers did pitch but they were outclassed not just on the rugby field but by a master brain called Plumtree.
I am a Bulls supporter but hell Stormers give the Sharks credit.
So I guess the lack of scoring was their downfall after all?
Jul 30, 2012 at 17:47:39
Lack of scoring is always going to be their downfall. Every team who makes the finals can defend, that’s one of the reason they are there. But, all the other teams can score too, the Stormers simply do not have an attacking game plan. I am certain they are capable of playing an attacking game with such class players, but it just looks like they don't have a game plan at all.
It was pretty obvious that if the Sharks got ahead in the first half, the Stormers would not be able to chase, and that’s exactly what we saw. They came back towards the end, after the Sharks got tired and the panic set in. But, it was not calculated or coordinated. The wrong choices were made and the Sharks capitalised on silly mistakes.
I won't go so far as to say the Stormers lost the game, I believe the Sharks went there with a good game plan and executed it well. They deserved their spot in the finals that is for sure.
Jul 29, 2012 at 12:45:29
There is a difference between a good side and a championship side, a good side is good enough to win games and great side will win those games when it matters and unfortunately there has been a horrible choking culture in the Cape, as soon as the pressure is on they are like deers in the headlights! You have to step it up in finals rugby like the Bulls did in their triumphs, and unfortunately these guys just can't seem to do it. What an absolute shocker it will be if someone like Jean or Schalk retires without winning a single trophy in the Cape their entire careers, if you consider how much talent there has been through the years!
Jul 29, 2012 at 11:14:45
Architects of your own destruction!
Not short at ll Jean, the boys were never in that match from the start.