The Stormers may have lost the United Rugby Championship pre-season shootout 38-26 to the Bulls in Paarl on Friday, but they could have discovered something far more valuable than a pre-season victory.
Lleyton Davids.
The 25-year-old speedster turned Faure Street Stadium into his personal runway, producing a dazzling display that had Stormers coach John Dobson reaching for the kind of superlatives normally reserved for established stars.
The Bulls scored six tries to the Stormers’ five, but the result was overshadowed by the emergence of the Robertson Town RFC recruit.
Davids scored the Stormers’ second try with a blistering burst of acceleration, burning Thaakir Abrahams on the outside before finishing with the composure of a man who knew exactly what he had in his locker.
🥶 Ice cold finish. pic.twitter.com/IJX5YFMwMU
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 11, 2026
Dobson was impressed.
“The Robertson Express showed something. He showed some glimpses,” the Stormers coach said.
There was more.
“I thought that pass behind Xola Nyali in the first half was brilliant. If Xola had stayed outside, we were over again.
“I thought he overachieved. He was better than I thought he was going to be. I think there’s something really there.”
That is a sizeable endorsement from a coach who has watched plenty of promising youngsters arrive with fireworks only to disappear into the smoke.
Davids appears to have something different.
His fluid stride and athleticism have already invited comparisons with American Sevens speedster Perry Baker, but Dobson’s excitement goes beyond raw pace.
“He’s very confident there. He’s a triple jumper. I’m quite excited about him.”
That athletic background was evident in the air, where Davids looked remarkably assured under the high ball.
And if his attacking brilliance was eye-catching, the defensive appetite of Dylan Miller was equally encouraging.
Miller scored twice and threw himself into the collision-heavy work with the fearless abandon that caught Dobson’s attention.
“He’s so tough, he’s absolutely fearless,” Dobson said.
“How was that tackle on Stravino Jacobs? I think he’s special.
“He didn’t make SA U20 this year but we think he’s going to be a star, mainly because he’s so fearless in his attitude. Ja, he’s not scared of anything, is he?”
The Stormers also found muscle in the pack.
Olly Reid helped force a penalty try against a Bulls pack that struggled to contain the hosts’ scrum and maul, while Junior Springbok Markus Muller produced another energetic performance across attack and defence.
“Olly’s a good player,” Dobson said. “To put that front row under pressure like that was excellent.”
Of Muller, Dobson added: “He’s extraordinary.”
The Stormers’ set piece was arguably their biggest weapon, repeatedly putting the Bulls under pressure.
But the visitors’ attack proved more clinical.
Marcell Coetzee, Francois Klopper, Abrahams, Keagan Johannes, JJ Theron and Sebastian de Klerk all scored for the Bulls, while Ruben Groenewald and Viaan Mentoor handled the conversions.
For the Stormers, Miller scored twice, Davids crossed once and a dominant maul produced a penalty try. Clayton Matthee kicked two conversions.
The Bulls walked away with the bragging rights.
The Stormers may have walked away with something more intriguing: the Robertson Express has left the station.
Scorers:
Stormers: Dylan Miller 2 tries, Lleyton Davids try, penalty try; Clayton Matthee 2 conversions.
Bulls: Marcell Coetzee, Francois Klopper, Thaakir Abrahams, Keagan Johannes, JJ Theron, Sebastian de Klerk tries; Ruben Groenewald conversion, Viaan Mentoor 3 conversions.
Teams:
Stormers: Dylan Miller, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Wandisile Simelane, Markus Muller, Lleyton Davids, Andre Warner, Hacjivah Dayimani, Louw Nel, Xola Nyali, Gary Porter, Riley Norton, Sazi Sandi, JJ Kotze, Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: Vernon Paolo, Lukhanyo Vokozela, Olly Reid, Ali Vermaak, Neethling Fouche, Herman Lubbe, Luan Botha, Adre Smith, Andre-Hugo Venter, Ezekiel Ngobeni, Jayden Brits, Yaqeen Ahmed, Kyle Smith, Gino Cupido, Joel Leotlela, Luke Burger.
Bulls: Alu Tsakweni, Sti Sithole, Sandi Msengana, Juann Else, John Hobson, Christiaan Grundlingh, Francois Klopper, Khuta Mchunu, Mornay Smith, Ruan Vermaak, Jaco Grobbelaar, JF van Heerden, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marcell Coetzee, Cepas van Biljon.
Backs: Paul de Wet, Zak Burger, Viaan Mentoor, Keagan Johannes, Curwin Bosch, Ruben Groenewald, Riyaad Bam, Sebastian de Klerk, Harold Vorster, Stravino Jacobs, Pieter van der Merwe, Stedman Gans, Demitre Erasmus, Thaakir Abrahams, Cheswill Jooste, Willie Le Roux, Hakeem Kunene.
