Pieter-Steph du Toit was influential. (Photo by Steve Haag/Gallo Images)
The Stormers prevailed in a seesawing encounter with the Sharks to claim a 25-22 victory at King s Park on Saturday.
In a match that had some decent finishing, but lacked in overall quality, the Capetonians - on balance - deserved their win, purely on the basis of repelling an initial onslaught and then managing to close things out despite moments of loose-ness.
It was the Sharks who had the upper hand for the first 30 minutes, monopolising possession and forcing their opponents to complete a substantial number of tackles.
They were given an ideal platform to do that by a robust and confident front row, with loosehead Ox Nche in particular giving Frans Malherbe, expected to be the Springboks first-choice tighthead against the British & Irish Lions, a hard time in the scrums.
Bulls flyhalf Morne Steyn gave another classy performance against the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
Steyn (36) has ben involved in Springbok alignment camps with the British & Irish Lions tour in mind.
Bulls coach Jake White praised Steyn s tactical awareness on Saturday.
The Bulls defence was heroic at times and a major factor in their 20-16 Rainbow Cup win over the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday.
Especially in the second half, the hosts attacked in waves, looking to break down the Bulls wall.
Instead, the Stormers could score just one try in 80 minutes and the Bulls defence, rightly, was lauded after the match.
Massive Bulls defence secures victory over stuttering Stormers
News24
09 May 2021, 04:43 GMT+10
The Bulls were stretched to their limits, but desperate defence in the closing stages of Saturday night s Rainbow Cup clash at Cape Town Stadium saw them secure a 20-16 win over the Stormers.
Tense and physical throughout, the contest did not provide much in the way of thrilling running rugby, but it was so closely contested that it didn t matter.
There were just three tries all game - two for the Bulls and one for the Stormers - but with Springbok places up for grabs for the upcoming British & Irish Lions tour, this was a mammoth battle.
Nama Xaba (Gallo)
The news that loose forward Nama Xaba has been ruled out of the Rainbow Cup has left Stormers coach John Dobson devastated.
Xaba is out for at least six weeks with an ankle injury.
He is one of numerous injury headaches facing the Capetonians ahead of their clash against the Bulls on Saturday.
Stormers coach John Dobson says has been left devastated by the news that Nama Xaba has been ruled out of the Rainbow Cup.
The 23-year-old flank picked up an ankle injury in training this week and he was not named in the squad to take on the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.