By numbers: DHL Stormers v Reds
The home side showed plenty of commitment as they gutsed out a 20-15 win over the Reds – scoring the game’s only try as they got back to winning ways after a tough tour of Australasia.
A passionate crowd of 25,134 stood behind their team, as they withstood a fierce final onslaught from the visitors who needed a converted try in the closing stages to come away with the win.
We take a look back at Saturday’s match… with the use of some interesting numbers:
One: Just one try was scored in the game – by the DHL Stormers’ Jean de Villiers. It is the fifth time this season that the Stormers have outscored their opponents in a match. On five occasions the try tally has been equal (against their opponents) and just twice, this year, have the Stormers been outscored in the tries department.
Four: The number of potential DHL Stormers debutants in their matchday 22. Of the quartet, only prop Chris Heiberg did not get a chance out there, but starting debutant Gerbrandt Grobler – a product of the WP Rugby Institute – will never forget the match; including his crucial line-out steal, against Wallaby lock Rob Simmons, just before half-time. That line-out steal let to the Stormers winning a penalty which Joe Pietersen converted for a 3-0 half-time lead.
Five: Penalty goals kicked by Joe Pietersen. The DHL Stormers fullback missed just two kicks on the night (one conversion and one penalty) as he took his points tally this season to an impressive 140.
Six: The amount of players ruled out with injuries after the Stormers’ previous encounter against the Rebels – meaning at least six changes were made to the side that took on the Reds. (A total of eight changes were made for the Reds game – including three jersey number switches – along with three new faces brought onto the bench.)
15: The amount of capped Wallabies in the Reds’ matchday 22. The DHL Stormers, meanwhile, had just six Springboks in their team – with a further five players having come from the Vodacom Cup team this season.
23: The amount of Test caps held by Reds and Wallabies inside centre Anthony Faingaa. His opposite number on Saturday, DHL Stormers No.12 Damian de Allende, has played just 22 senior matches – in total – at Vodacom Cup, Currie Cup and Super Rugby level.
25: The average age of the DHL Stormers matchday squad and starting team on Saturday. Take out Gio Aplon (30 years old), Jean de Villiers (32) and Tiaan Liebenberg (31) and the overall average age drops to 23,5.
53: The amount of times Jean de Villiers has captained the DHL Stormers. He is now the most experienced skipper in the history of Stormers rugby – overtaking another Springbok captain, Corné Krige. Only nine players – two of them South African – have more Vodacom Super Rugby captaincy experience than De Villiers.
10456: The amount of SMSes which were received in order to raise funds for former Western Province centre Tinus Linee. Thank you to the rugby-watching public of South Africa!
38208: The Tinus Linee SMS number – you can SMS ‘TINUS’ to 38208 right up until Monday, June 3. Get SMSing! (SMSes are charged at R10.)
