The Stormers produced a commanding 44-21 victory over Cardiff at Cape Town Stadium in their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal, with loosehead prop Ntuthuko Mchunu delivering a standout, man-of-the-match performance.

The home side dominated from the outset, particularly in the set pieces, where their forward pack exerted consistent pressure and effectively neutralised Cardiff’s scrum.

The Stormers led 21-7 at half-time and maintained control throughout, despite a brief Cardiff fightback that narrowed the gap to 26-21 in the third quarter.

However, once the hosts settled again, they accelerated into another gear, with their attacking cohesion and physical dominance proving too much for the visitors.Cardiff, who had beaten the Stormers in the final league round a fortnight earlier, struggled to replicate that performance on South African soil.Their discipline faltered under sustained pressure, with two props receiving yellow cards and the team conceding multiple penalties at key moments.Stormers captain Ruhan Nel praised the improved discipline, decision-making and attitude compared to earlier performances in the season.Coach John Dobson’s pre-match promise of a more aggressive and committed display was fully realised.The Stormers scored six tries and frequently crossed the line, although a few were disallowed or held up.

Key contributions also came from Damian Willemse and Seabelo Senatla, though both Senatla and flyhalf Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu picked up injuries while scoring tries.Flanker Paul de Villiers continued to impress with his breakdown work, strengthening his case for higher honours.With this win, the Stormers are expected to face Leinster in the semifinal in Dublin, setting up a major test against the defending URC champions.