Overview
- A 79th-minute try by scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer was awarded after a lengthy TMO review and proved decisive as Stormers XXIII beat defending champions Griquas 25-19.
- The match featured heavy carding that shaped the result with three Stormers yellow cards, two Griquas yellows and one yellow upgraded to a 20-minute red that left Griquas down to 13 men late in the game.
- Stormers conceded a high number of penalties in the first half which allowed Griquas to build momentum before Stormers fought back with second-half tries from Vernon Paulo and Mfundo Ndhlovu.
- Captain Jean-Luc du Plessis opened the scoring with a penalty but left at halftime with a knee issue, and coach Tom Dawson-Squibb praised the team’s character while warning discipline and execution still need work.
- The result snaps an eight-match losing streak to Griquas and gives the rebranded Stormers XXIII a morale lift as they prepare to travel to Wellington to face the Boland Cavaliers next in round two, while Griquas host Bulls XV.