Francois Hougaard feels the force of the Stormers' defence
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Spiro Zavos calls on the Wallabies to stand firm in the face of a South African onslaught this season in The Sydney Morning Herald.
"This year's Super14 final between the Bulls and the Stormers had a one-minute 39-second, all-hell-breaking-loose start to a thunderous match. The ball was run wide by both sides during this opening blitz. Kicks were belted high into the air with forwards and backs charging after them.
"Hard-shouldered tackling was inflicted. And gangbuster tackling that would have stopped a runaway bus was delivered by the unsmiling giants of South African rugby. The match continued at this pace and physicality until, with time up, the Stormers, down 25-17, continued their assault on the Bulls' defensive line.
"After watching enthralled at the quality and power of the rugby, which was of a Test-match intensity, I remembered receiving a phone call from a high-ranking ARU official after a similarly intense and well-played final in 1998, between the Blues in their third consecutive final and the Crusaders. "How are the Wallabies ever going to defeat the All Blacks this year after a final like that?" he said."
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