Cape Town – In a tempestuous fixture at the DHL Stadium, the Stormers secured a 34–24 bonus-point win over Cardiff, sealing fifth place on the URC table—but it was a game as much about controversy as it was about champagne rugby.
With a flurry of tries, a brace of red cards, and the bubbling potential of future Springbok stars, this match had all the trappings of a blockbuster—if only the refereeing calls hadn’t become the main subplot.
Opening Blitz: Lightning from the Cape
The Stormers came out of the tunnel like a team with thunder in their boots. Leolin Zas and Suleiman Hartzenberg, the electric wing duo, ran riot early on—each claiming two tries. It was rugby played with flair, like jazz on a wet pitch—improvised yet impeccably timed.
Suleiman Hartzenberg, celebrating his 50th cap at just 21 years old, was irresistible on the wing. Like a heat-seeking missile in cleats, he found space where there was none, slicing through Cardiff’s line with surgical precision.
“It’s always special pulling on the jersey, but today was something else,” Hartzenberg said. “I just wanted to leave everything out there. The boys made it easy for me—Manie, Gaza [Willemse], everyone. I’m just blessed.”
And indeed, Manie Libbok—returning from injury—pulled the strings like a seasoned puppeteer. His cross-field kicks were like arrows dipped in precision, one landing sweetly into Hartzenberg’s hands for his second try. It was a statement performance from Libbok, a reminder to the national selectors that his boot can still orchestrate a symphony when needed.
Red Mist Descends: A Tale of Two Cards
If the first half was a highlight reel, the second half was a court case.
Cardiff’s Danny Southworth was the first to be shown red for a high tackle on Neethling Fouché. While many felt it was letter-of-the-law refereeing rather than the spirit of the game, the officials didn’t hesitate. Coming in from a distance, with clear line of sight, Southworth gave them little room for mitigation.
But it was the red card issued to Damian Willemse in the 58th minute that turned the match—and the post-match debate—on its head.
In what looked like a passive, even clumsy attempt at a tackle, Willemse’s shoulder made contact with the head of Cardiff winger Gabe Hamer-Webb. The result? Marching orders from referee Gianluca Gnecchi.
Stormers coach John Dobson was blunt in his post-match remarks:
“It’s a disaster,” Dobson said.
“We will mount our best defence.
“I haven’t seen it enough to comment on the impact of Zassie’s [Leolin Zas’] tackle [in the Willemse incident]. I don’t know if it was enough.
“It was our fault. Gaza [Willemse] wasn’t released from the inside by Zas and then he was stuck and he turned, so I don’t think he was trying to hit with a shoulder, he was trying to turn.
“The implications, I’m sure, are going to be poor for us. I’ve got no doubt.”
Dobson added: “We can’t appeal until there is a decision.
“We can decide if we are going to wait for them to give us a ruling or we can go straight to the judicial officer.
“I think if we go straight to a judicial officer there is more chance of a better sanction, but there will still be sanction.
“I don’t see them overturning it unless Zas has clearly caused the height to come down.
“It sounds like it is grey. It’s a disaster for us.”
Willemse had been sublime up until then, carving through Cardiff’s defensive shell like a hot knife through margarine. His absence in the playoffs could be seismic.
The Stormers camp will likely argue that the tackle was passive, that Zas’s positioning played a part, and that there was minimal danger—but the letter of the law, again, may not offer much reprieve.
Cardiff’s Grit in the Shadows
To their credit, Cardiff never folded. Despite playing 65 minutes with 14 men, they clawed back late in the match with tries from Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Harri Millard, and Dafydd Hughes. Callum Sheedy, ever the orchestrator, kept probing and prodding like a fox in the henhouse, nearly dragging his side to a losing bonus point.
But small margins—such as Sheedy’s conversion being timed out, or Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s late penalty—meant they left Cape Town with only pride and bruises.
Cardiff captain Josh McNally reflected: “That’s exactly what we asked for earlier in the week—let’s not leave anything out there. We fought hard all year, and I’m proud of the group. We’re going somewhere.”
Cardiff may have lost, but they walked off with heads held high. Few teams live with the Stormers at the DHL Stadium—fewer still with 14 men for most of the match.
Five Takeaways from the Stormers’ Win
- Hartzenberg is the Real Deal
Beating seven defenders and gaining over 100 metres, Hartzenberg was a whirlwind of power and pace. His 50 caps at age 21 are no fluke. - Libbok’s Return is a Game-Changer
Despite being heavily strapped, Libbok’s passing, vision and kicking were razor-sharp. The Boks will be watching. - Red Cards Dominate the Narrative
Southworth’s was clear-cut. Willemse’s was muddier. But both left fans and pundits lamenting the game’s stop-start nature. - Willemse’s Ban Could Hurt Playoff Hopes
The Stormers are not the same without him. His ban—likely to be three matches unless successfully challenged—casts a long shadow over their playoff prospects. - Stormers’ Depth Still a Weapon
Even without some key players, the Stormers flexed their muscle. Zas, Libbok, Hartzenberg, and Feinberg-Mngomezulu give them options aplenty heading into the knockouts.
Next Stop: Scotland
The Stormers now head to the cauldron of Scotstoun on Friday, May 30th, where they will face defending champions Glasgow Warriors. With or without Willemse, it will be a battle of titans.
Dobson knows the road ahead will be steep, but not impossible.
“We’ve got depth. We’ve got grit. And if we can keep our discipline, we’ve got a shot.”
The Stormers will hope to bring the same lightning, minus the thunderclaps from the referees’ whistle.
Final Word
The Stormers’ victory over Cardiff was rugby theatre—brilliantly lit in parts, murky in others. It was a reminder of how fine the margins are in this competition, and how quickly fortunes can change. The Capetonians will march north with confidence, but also with the ghost of that red card looming over their shoulder.
In the grand theatre of the URC, Act One is done. Curtain rises on the playoffs next.
