There are some rugby nights when the final score is only part of the story.
Friday evening at DHL Stadium was one of them.
I went along with my family and my daughter’s boyfriend, Skye, and we had a joyous time on a beautiful, balmy August evening in Cape Town.
We had good seats, a wonderful view of the action and around 47,000 boisterous fans creating the kind of atmosphere that reminds you just how deeply rugby runs through this country.
And this was no ordinary fixture.
The DHL Stormers against the All Blacks marked the opening match of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry Tour and the beginning of the build-up towards the first Test on 22 August.
The scoreboard will tell you that the All Blacks won 38-21.
But the scoreboard does not tell the full story.
For long periods, the Stormers made the visitors work incredibly hard. In fact, at 14-14 midway through the second half, this was anybody’s game. Only a late surge of three tries allowed the All Blacks to pull away and give the final scoreline a rather more comfortable appearance than the evening deserved.
From where I was sitting, there were plenty of work-ons for the All Blacks.
They looked ring-rusty in patches and their discipline will surely concern the coaching staff. Three yellow cards and 16 penalties conceded is simply too much against quality opposition, especially with the Springboks waiting further down the road.
The All Blacks pack will also have to improve its defence against the driving maul. The Stormers repeatedly went to that weapon and caused the visitors real problems.
But context is important.
There are more than 40 players on this touring party and this match was an opportunity to give players game time and see who might put up a hand for the Tests.
On what I saw, I am not convinced that many of those who played have suddenly forced their way into serious Test consideration.
Simon Parker certainly gave the selectors something to think about, while Josh Moorby had some eye-catching moments. Peter Lakai was another who impressed, particularly with his work around the breakdown and his role in Leroy Carter’s excellent second-half try.
But there is a considerable step up from performing against the Stormers to facing the Springboks in a Test match.
That is the challenge.
The All Blacks started well, with Samisoni Taukei’aho scoring from a rolling maul after only five minutes, but the Stormers quickly discovered that they could pressure the visitors through their own lineout and maul.
The All Blacks then found themselves down to 13 men after Anton Lienert-Brown and Parker were yellow-carded.
The Stormers will probably look back on that period with some frustration. When you have the All Blacks down to 13, you have to make them pay.
They didn’t fully do so.
Deon Fourie eventually forced his way over, but the All Blacks survived the pressure and, crucially, struck before halftime. Fabian Holland stole a lineout, Rieko Ioane powered through midfield and, following a quick tap from Cortez Ratima, Parker finished the move to give the visitors a 14-7 halftime lead.
The Stormers weren’t finished.
Their lineout move for Seabelo Senatla’s try was beautifully executed and suddenly, at 14-14, the stadium was alive.
This was a contest.
Then came the difference between good sides and top international teams: the ability to find another gear when the game is in the balance.
Ioane powered over, Carter produced an outstanding finish after excellent work from Lakai, and Moorby capitalised on a charged-down kick to score.
Moorby then went from hero to the sin bin when his intervention prevented Warrick Gelant from grounding the ball, resulting in a Stormers penalty try.
Asafo Aumua had the final word, powering over from a maul in injury time to complete the 38-21 victory.
So, what did we learn?
The All Blacks have plenty of work to do.
Their discipline has to improve. Their defence of the maul needs attention. There were handling errors and combinations that understandably didn’t always look settled.
But they also scored six tries while not playing particularly well.
That should not be ignored.
With a touring squad of more than 40 players, there is enormous depth and plenty of opportunity to fix what went wrong before the serious business begins.
For the Stormers, there was much to admire. They were physical, committed and prepared to take the game to the All Blacks. The final 17-point margin does not accurately reflect how competitive this contest was for much of the evening.
For me personally, though, Friday was about more than analysing scrums, mauls, yellow cards and selection possibilities.
It was about sitting in a packed Cape Town stadium with my family, watching a team I have followed for more than 50 years, and feeling the excitement of another chapter in this extraordinary rugby story beginning.
A balmy August evening.
47,000 passionate rugby supporters.
The Stormers refusing to take a backward step.
The All Blacks finding a way to win.
And the Springboks waiting.
Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry has begun.
Final score: DHL Stormers 21 – All Blacks 38
Halftime: DHL Stormers 7 – All Blacks 14
Scorers: DHL Stormers – Deon Fourie, Seabelo Senatla tries; penalty try; Yaqeen Ahmed 2 conversions. All Blacks – Samisoni Taukei’aho, Simon Parker, Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Asafo Aumua tries; Beauden Barrett 3 conversions; Josh Jacomb conversion.
The stunning match photos are from my dear friend Warren Kirkland – seek his work out on instagram warren_kirkland_sports Thank you Warren
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