‘We need to walk away with a win’: Stormers can't afford another 4G slip-up

The Stormers know victory over Cardiff is crucial in the URC playoff race, with Andre-Hugo Venter admitting the Cape side must win to boost their home quarter-final hopes.

Matchday Global13 May 2026

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After their 38-38 draw with Ulster last week, the United Rugby Championship clash between Cardiff and the Stormers on Friday night has taken on critical importance for the Cape-based side.

After last weekend, John Dobson’s charges dropped to second place on the log behind Glasgow Warriors.

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In the running for a home quarter-final clash, the Stormers know that a win against the Welsh side, who themselves are fighting for playoff spots, is non-negotiable.

For the Stormers, playing as many knockout games as possible at DHL Stadium is a must, says hooker Andre-Hugo Venter.

“If you look at the playoffs, if you go through after the quarter-finals, you want to play as many games at home as possible,” Venter said.

“So for us, that means that we need to walk away with a win this weekend.

“If we go through, we improve our chances of playing at the DHL [Stadium] in front of our fans, in front of our people on our own turf.

“So I don't think, in terms of desperation, they'll be more desperate than us at all. I think it's going to be a really good game, two teams that really want to win,” Venter added.

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Stormers defence coach, Norman Laker, said he was expecting a fast-paced game on Friday, especially as the match takes place on a 4G surface, something the Stormers don't enjoy at all.

“Yeah, look, they're a ball-in-hand team, very similar to Ulster,” Laker said.

“[They are a] well-coached team, [have a] good set-piece.

“Although the line-outs are sometimes shaky, I do think they will fix it.

“Their scrum's not bad, and yeah, they're quite a ball-in-hand team.

“So this weekend the team must be spot-on; we can't make the same mistakes on 4G [like last week],” Laker said.

Do you think the Stormers will come away with a win and ensure they secure a home quarter-final? KickOff Rugby predicts they'll finally break that 4G hoodoo and get their first win on a synthetic surface.