Rugby: Stormers blow Blues away

Luke McAlister of the Blues is tackled by Peter Grant (L) and Juan de Jongh (R) of the Stomers. Photo / Getty Images

The Stormers blew away the Blues with a comprehensive 33-21 victory in a Super 14 rugby match at Auckland today.

The Blues' hopes of matching a big Stormers pack were dented when prop John Afoa pulled out just before kickoff to be replaced by Tevita Mailau.

They then lost prop Charlie Faumuina to a rib injury early in the match.

Faumuina, who was outstanding in last week's 32-17 defeat of the table topping Bulls was replaced by Michael Reid.

In midfield, the reliable Benson Stanley also did not start, his place going to Luke McAlister in another late change.

The Stormers, still stinging from last week's 15-16 loss to the struggling Western Force at Perth, quickly took charge of the match with first five-eighth Peter Grant controlling the tempo while upfront skipper Schalk Burger and No 8 Duane Vermeulen were grinding the opposition with their abrasive play, beating their opposites to the ball more often than not.

A Grant penalty in the sixth minute was just reward for the Stormers after a lengthy period with the ball.

An aimless kick by Rene Ranger provided the Stormers with the their next scoring opportunity with fullback Gio Aplon ripping upfield in a counter attack that saw centre Jacque Fourie score the opening try of the game.

The Stormers' domination was further rewarded when halfback Dewaldt Duvenage scored from a ruck that begun from a rolling maul after a lineout in the 23rd minute.

Another Grant penalty gave the Stormers a 20-0 lead until the Blues finally hit a purple patch in the final five minutes. Fullback Isaia Toeava sparked the move with a fend that put flanker Francois Louw on his backside.

Toeava and wing Joe Rokocoko combined to bring the ball to the Stormers tryline and flanker Serge Lilo put the finishing touches for Stephen Brett to convert and take the score to 20-7 at halftime.

The Blues outscored the Stormers two tries to one in the second half but

Grant was in deadly kicking form today, kicking another two penalties and a conversion after the breather to collect 18 points from the game.

The Blues first try of the second half was scored by McAlister who crowned some hard work by the forwards.

The next chance for the Blues came when centre Rene Ranger shimmied past three tackles inside his 22 and then raced upfield where the move broke down when he was tackled. But Stephen could not convert the 35-metre penalty from in front.

The Stormers took advantage of another of the many botched lineouts by the Blues for substitute Anton van Zyle to score.

The Toeava-Rokocoko combination produced another highlight when the pair exchanged passes with Rokocoko finishing the burst with a try under the bar.

But another successful Grant penalty gave the Blues too much to do in the last handful of minutes.

- NZPA