The Stormers made hard work of beating Cardiff in Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final at Cape Town Stadium.
The home side scored six tries to win 44-21, having led 21-7 at half-time, and will play the winners of the clash between Leinster and the Lions in Dublin.
After a tight opening exchange, a powerful scrum put the Stormers on the front foot. But after hammering away in the Cardiff 22, they lost possession and a slap pass was picked off by wing Jacob Beetham, who sent fullback Cam Winnett away for the try.
However, the Stormers hit back almost immediately with their tried-and-trusted penalty-lineout-maul routine, which saw hooker André-Hugo Venter score.
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As the penalty count started to mount against Cardiff, Stormers loosehead Ntuthuko Mchunu broke free round the back of a lineout to power over.
After yet another scrum penalty, Cardiff tighthead Keiron Assiratti was yellow-carded.
Fullback Damian Willemse then set up winger Leolin Zas, who burst through Winnett’s tackle to dot down.
Damian Willemse and Leolin Zas cook up a banger
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Cardiff came out firing in the second half, with No 8 Taine Basham picking up from the base of a 5m scrum to score, with the conversion making it a seven-point game.
But just as the visitors looked to step it up further, returning Stormers winger Seabelo Senatla snaffled an opposition cross-kick and sent Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in for the try.
The Bok flyhalf hurt his ankle in the act of scoring and was forced off. While scrumhalf Imad Khan missed the conversion, the Stormers led 26-14.
SFM in full flight
The DHL Stormers are finding their rhythm
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Cardiff refused to go away, however, and a converted try by flank James Botham reduced the deficit to just five points with 20 minutes remaining.
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But Javan Sebastian then became the second Cardiff tighthead to see yellow following an infringement, leading to uncontested scrums and the sacrificing of another player.
The relief was palpable around the stadium when flank Paul de Villiers scored from another powerful lineout maul to give the Stormers a 10-point buffer.
There was a late try from replacement hooker JJ Kotze, while replacement flyhalf Jurie Matthee added two penalties.
STORMERS – Tries: André-Hugo Venter, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Paul de Villiers, JJ Kotze. Conversions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (3), Jurie Matthee. Penalties: Jurie Matthee (2).
CARDIFF – Tries: Cam Winnett, Taine Basham, James Botham. Conversions: Ioan Lloyd (3).
Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
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The Stormers made hard work of beating Cardiff in Saturday’s Vodacom URC quarter-final at Cape Town Stadium.
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