Stormers Secure URC Semi-Final Place with Victory Over Cardiff
The Stormers have secured their place in the United Rugby Championship (URC) semi-final play-offs following a six-try win against Cardiff in Cape Town. This victory marks their second win over Cardiff on home soil in the past year.
John Dobson's team will face either Leinster in Dublin or a home match against the Lions next weekend, depending on the outcome of other fixtures.
The Stormers’ tries came from hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, wing Leolin Zas, flanker Paul de Villiers, replacement JJ Kotze, and fly-half Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, who contributed 11 points in total. Cardiff’s tries were scored by full-back Cameron Winnett, and Wales back-row players Taine Basham and James Botham. Conversions and penalties were kicked by Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jurie Matthee for the Stormers, and I Lloyd for Cardiff.
Cardiff initially took the lead with an interception try by Winnett, but the Stormers’ dominance, particularly in the scrum and aerial battles, along with Cardiff’s disciplinary issues, shifted momentum in favor of the home side.
Wales prop Keiron Assiratti endured a difficult match, conceding four set-piece penalties and receiving a yellow card in the first half. He also sustained a calf injury, putting his availability for Wales’ summer programme in doubt. Cardiff’s tight-head Javan Sebastian was also sin-binned in the second half due to repeated penalties.
Stormers Gain Revenge as Cardiff’s Season Ends
This win served as revenge for the Stormers following their 22-16 defeat by Cardiff in the final round of league matches. Cardiff’s loss in Cape Town marks the conclusion of the season for the Welsh professional sides.
Cardiff, making their first appearance in the URC quarter-finals after narrowly missing out last season, traveled approximately 6,000 miles for their knockout debut. Winning in South Africa was always a challenging prospect, with eight of Cardiff’s 11 league victories this season achieved at their home ground, the Arms Park.
During the 2025-26 campaign, Cardiff secured only one away league win, a victory against Zebre in November, complemented by domestic wins over Scarlets and Dragons.
Stormers Consider Cardiff Their 'Easiest' Play-Off Opponents
Stormers head coach John Dobson sparked discussion by describing Cardiff as the "easiest" of the possible quarter-final opponents. He later clarified that this assessment was based on Cardiff being the Stormers’ most recent adversaries.
Cardiff’s squad was strengthened by the return of Wales wing Josh Adams and lock Josh McNally, though Test players Alex Mann, Mason Grady, and Teddy Williams remained absent.
The visitors initiated the first attacking moves with flanker James Botham and McNally, but a forward pass nullified the threat. The Stormers’ scrum dominance resulted in penalties that pressured Cardiff, though the visitors initially resisted.
Cardiff fly-half Ioan Lloyd’s break temporarily shifted momentum before Cardiff capitalized on a Stormers’ error. A loose one-handed pass from Stormers scrum-half Imad Khan was intercepted by wing Jacob Beetham, who set up full-back Winnett for a try, converted by Lloyd from the touchline.
The Stormers responded by exploiting Cardiff’s ill-discipline, with penalties mounting against the visitors. Hooker Venter scored after a driving maul, a decision confirmed by referee Eoghan Cross and not overturned by the television match official (TMO). Prop Mchunu then scored following further penalties conceded by Cardiff, including one that led to Assiratti’s yellow card.
Cardiff defenders Dan Thomas and scrum-half Johan Mulder made notable efforts to stop Stormers captain Ruhan Nel, but Stormers’ third try came from a combination between full-back Damian Willemse and Zas. Willemse’s offload enabled Zas to break through a tackle and score, giving the Stormers a 21-7 lead at halftime. Cardiff had conceded 10 penalties in the first 40 minutes.
Cardiff Rally but Stormers Maintain Control
At the start of the second half, Cardiff showed resilience as Basham scored from the base of an attacking scrum with skillful footwork. However, Cardiff’s momentum was hampered when a kick from Lloyd was gathered by Seabelo Senatla, who assisted Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s try, which was not ruled forward.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu sustained an ankle injury during the try-scoring effort following a tackle by Lloyd, marking his final action of the game.
Senatla later had a try disallowed for a knock-on, but Cardiff continued to fight back with Botham scoring their third try. Lloyd’s conversion narrowed the deficit to five points, reflecting Cardiff’s determination.
Cardiff was reduced to 14 players when Scotland prop Sebastian received a yellow card, and Stormers capitalized with de Villiers scoring the fifth try. With Assiratti already off injured, uncontested scrums were introduced, and Cardiff lost another player, reducing them to 13 men, effectively ending the contest.
Stormers’ Jurie Matthee added two late penalties and converted a try from replacement hooker Kotze to complete the scoring.
Match Details
Stormers: Willemse; Senatla, Nel (capt), du Plessis, Zas; Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Khan; Mchunu, Venter, Fouche, Smith, van Heerden, de Villiers, Dixon, Roos.
Replacements: Kotze, Matongo, Porthen, Moerat, Ackerman, Theunissen, Ungerer, Matthee.
Cardiff: Winnett; Beetham, B Thomas, Jennings, Adams; I Lloyd, Mulder; Barratt, Belcher (capt), Assiratti, McNally, Thornton, Botham, D Thomas, Basham.
Replacements: D Hughes, Southworth, Sebastian, Nott, Lawrence, E Lloyd, Bevan, Bowen.
Yellow cards: Assiratti (32), Sebastian (64)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace & Andrew Cole (Ireland)
