The Stormers may have wrapped up their URC round-robin fixtures with momentum on their side, but the buzz from their victory over Cardiff was quickly muted.
Why? Damian Willemse – one of their brightest stars – got shown a red card, and it’s causing quite a stir.
High Tackle Drama as Willemse Faces Possible Ban
Willemse was sent off the pitch for a high tackle on Cardiff winger Gabe Hamer-Webb.
And with how tight the rules are these days around contact with the head, it’s looking likely that the Stormers fullback could be handed a suspension – possibly up to four weeks.
Head coach John Dobson didn’t want to jump to conclusions, but even he admitted the situation doesn’t look good for them.
“I haven’t watched it closely enough to say much, but he got caught in an awkward position,” Dobson explained.
“I really don’t think there was any intent – it looked like he was trying to twist rather than shoulder-charge.
Still, the consequences for us could be bad. Honestly, I don’t expect that decision to get overturned.
It’s a big blow.”
Still Plenty of Positives for the Stormers
Despite the Willemse controversy, the Stormers still have reasons to smile.
Their recent performances have been sharp, and they’re very much in the playoff conversation.
Now, they’ll wait for the results from the remaining matches this weekend to see where they’ll be heading for their quarter-final clash – either staying local to face the Sharks in Durban or traveling to Scotland for a showdown with Glasgow.
Dobson seemed a bit more relaxed about the prospects post-match: “Initially I was very clear that we wanted to go to Durban,” he said.
“But honestly, this team’s ready to play whoever comes their way.”
Looking Ahead to the Knockouts and Beyond
While they didn’t quite manage to secure a home quarter-final, Dobson remains proud of his squad and hopeful for the future.
“Sure, not hosting is a letdown,” he admitted.
“But given our tight budget, to still be pushing for a top-four finish is something we can be proud of.
That’s got to be our aim going forward.”
How far do you think the Stormers can go with or without Willemse in the playoffs?