Rugby: Stormers thrash Highlanders

All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan had his 28th birthday ruined when the Highlanders suffered a severe 33-0 mauling from the Stormers at Newlands in Capetown this morning.

To add salt to the wound, Cowan suffered a suspected broken finger as he reached, vainly, to ignite a Highlanders' recovery and was forced from the field early in the second half.

The Highlanders had no answer to the power and control of the Stormers forward pack, who scored twice from mauls -- one by inspiring captain Schalk Burger after a rolling maul which rumbled 35 metres upfield with Burger in possession.

In all, the Stormers scored four unanswered tries to gain a bonus point and never looked in any danger of defeat.

Although dominating possession and territory in the early stages of the game, the Highlanders found themselves 16 points in arrears at half-time. Major problems at the lineout and a static approach by the backline hampered the Highlander's progress, while the home based Stormers showed a far more positive and adventurous approach with ball in hand.

The only try of the first half came from a bungled Highlanders throw-in to the lineout and, from the ensuing Stormers attack, hooker Deon Fourie struggled his way through several defenders to dot down.

The balance came from the accurate boot of Stormers fullback, Joe Pietersen, who landed all three of his first half penalty attempts plus the conversion of Fourie's try.

The scoreline would have been greater if Adam Thomson hadn't been able to pull off a magnificent try-saving tackle just before the break. Thomson was the best of a gallant Highlanders pack.

The Highlanders were considerably hampered by the loss of Cowan after 50 minutes, who came closest to scoring when he lunged with the ball at the goalpost, only to crunch his finger and leave the field in obvious pain.

The class of the Stormers' ability to turn rare chances into points, came in the final minute when ace South African winger, Bryan Habana, showed brilliant ball skills to score his predictable individual try.

This was in complete contrast to the rather pop-gun display by the Highlanders backs, who lacked the finesse required to break to diligent Stormers defences.

Stormers 33 (Deon Fourie, Schalk Burger, Pieter Louw, Bryan Habana tries; Joe Pietersen 3 pen, con, Peter Grant con) Highlanders nil. Halftime: Stormers 16 - 0.