The DHL Stormers XXIII scored a late try through scrumhalf Stefan Ungerer to snatch victory by 25-19 (halftime 8-12) over the defending champions, Suzuki Griquas in a Carling Currie Cup Premier Division match at DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday evening.
They did it trailing 8-12 at the break, down to 13 men at one stage, and staring down a Griquas side that had not lost to the Stormers in a Currie Cup match since 26 December 2020.
Some wins just feel bigger than the scoreboard suggests. This was one of them.
Look at what it means! #inittogether pic.twitter.com/LfBd2EKOfP
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) July 17, 2026
Griquas arrived in Cape Town as the team to beat - Currie Cup champions, confident, and with four straight wins over the Stormers in recent seasons.
Jean-Luc du Plessis gave the hosts an early foothold with a penalty inside the opening three minutes, but Griquas quickly settled and began to impose their physicality.
Sako Makata crossed for the visitors, and with the Stormers' discipline unravelling at an alarming rate, Griquas controlled large chunks of the first half.
By the break, the champions led 12-8, having turned down kickable penalties in favour of the corner on more than one occasion - backing their driving maul and scrum to finish the job.
The Stormers' indiscipline in the first half was extraordinary. Eleven penalties conceded resulted in two yellow cards before the break, leaving the home side playing stretches at 13 men against the defending champions.
That they only trailed by four at the interval was, in truth, a minor miracle - and spoke to a defensive grit that never quite deserted them despite the chaos around it.
Hooker Vernon Paulo's try kept the Stormers within reach, and the crowd at DHL Stadium refused to let the energy die.
UNGERER SEALS THE DEAL
The second half was a different animal.
The Stormers came out with purpose - winger Mfundo Ndhlovu crossing to draw the sides level and spark genuine belief in the Cape Town stands.
But Griquas hit back hard. Flanker Lourens Oosthuizen and replacement hooker Tiaan Lange both went over, with flyhalf George Whitehead converting both, and suddenly it was Griquas who looked like they would close it out.
A third yellow card for the Stormers left them facing the final quarter again a man or two short.
Griquas led by a single point with possession and territory in their favour - 61 and 63 per cent respectively.
With time almost up, Ungerer - busy and sharp throughout - almost seemed to knock the ball on, but found a gap in the Griquas defense to give the Stormers the lead.
What a play! Stef Ungerer goes through for the match-winning try!
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) July 17, 2026
⛈️ 25-19 💎 (79 mins)#XXIIIvGRI #inittogether pic.twitter.com/UkamxfR2RM
Dominic Malgas, on for Du Plessis, cool as a Constantia evening, held his nerve on the conversion despite running the shot clock almost dry.
When the ball sailed through the uprights, time was up. The Stormers had opened their account with a victory.
SCORERS
DHL Stormers XXIII - Tries: Vernon Paulo, Mfundo Ndhlovu, Stefan Ungerer; Conversions: Dominic Malgas (2); Penalties: Jean-Luc du Plessis, Malgas.
Suzuki Griquas - Tries: Sako Makata, Lourens Oosthuizen, Tiaan Lange; Conversions: George Whitehead (2).