Online ReporterThe DHL Stormers capitalised on their forward and physical superiority by drumming out a comprehensive 44-21 win over Cardiff in their Vodacom URC quarterfinal at the DHL Stadium to set themselves up for their first semifinal appearance in the competition since 2023.
However the Stormers’ celebrations after their six-try-to-three triumph in front of a crowd of just over 30 000 had a blanket thrown on it by the sight of their kingpin flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu leaving down the tunnel after the final whistle being supported by crutches.
The Springbok pivot was injured when he was tackled by a Cardiff player as he crossed for a second-half try that re-established daylight between the teams on the scoreboard.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu rounded off after wing Seabelo Senatla had run through after catching a badly misdirected Cardiff cross kick to turn a seven point advantage into a 12 point lead for the home team after Cardiff had sounded an early second-half warning with a 46th minute try to reduce what had been a 21-7 halftime deficit.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu lay on his side in the in-goal area as his team celebrated the score and it was left to scrumhalf Imad Khan to unsuccessfully attempt the conversion.
When Senatla left the field with what looked like an injury shortly after he’d dotted down a try that was eventually chalked off, Khan ended up having to take up position on the wing.
The Stormers will have to wait on a medical report on Feinberg-Mngomezulu but it looks highly unlikely he’ll be available for next week’s semifinal, with the venue of that game and the opponents to be determined by the final quarterfinal of the weekend between Leinster and the Fidelity SecureDrive Lions on Saturday night.
The win was sweet revenge for the Stormers for their defeat in the last league game of the competition at Cardiff Arms Park just over a fortnight ago, but although in the end it was a comfortable margin of victory and the 23 -point winning margin an apt summation of their superiority, you couldn’t fault Cardiff for fight. — SuperSport.
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