Poor discipline cost the Stormers dearly as they slumped to defeat to defending champions Leinster in Saturday’s Vodacom URC semi-final in Dublin.
Leinster, who won 20-11 at at the Aviva Stadium after leading at 13-8 at half-time, will host the Vodacom Bulls in the final in two weeks time.
The Bulls beat the Glasgow Warriors 22-21 at Murrayfield earlier in the day.
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A second-half red card to replacement loose forward Ruan Ackermann and yellows for wing Leolin Zas and replacement lock Salmaan Moerat cost the Stormers of any chance at victory.
Leinster were quickly into their attacking stride and centre Rieko Ioane raced in to score in the eighth minute. Flyhalf Sam Prendergast converted.
Osborne to Ioane, only 1️⃣ outcome 🚀@Vodacom #URC | #LEIvSTO pic.twitter.com/R3Ec8Bujt4
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) June 6, 2026
The home side were piling on the pressure with wave after wave of attack and Stormers infringements saw Prendergast slot two penalties for a 13-0 lead after 23 minutes.
The Stormers needed something to get in the game and after a rare foray into Leinster territory it was lock Adré Smith who crashed over from close range.
Flyhalf Jurie Matthee, who had missed the earlier conversion, kicked a penalty from in front after a scrum infringement to make the score 13-8.
John Dobson’s side did well to repel repeated Leinster attacks on their tryline just before the break.
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Early in the second half, Zas was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on as Leinster looked to turn the screw.
However, a powerful Stormers scrum earned a penalty which Matthee slotted to make it a two-point game.
With 12 minutes left, Ackermann was sent from the field for a dangerous cleanout.
Ruan Ackermann is set to the sin bin for a dangerous clean out ❌
His yellow card is upgraded to a 20-minute red 🟥
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/Z1cFaj1nPL
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) June 6, 2026
Scrumhalf Jamison Gibson-Park then scooted through the Stormers defence to score under the posts, with Harry Byrne converting.
It got even worse for the Stormers when Moerat was yellow-carded for a cynical foul at the breakdown and Ackermann’s yellow was upgraded to a red.
LEINSTER – Tries: Rieko Ioane, Jamison Gibson-Park. Conversions: Sam Prendergast, Harry Byrne. Penalties: Sam Prendergast (2).
STORMERS – Tries: Adré Smith. Penalties: Jurie Matthee (2).
Photo: @LeinsterRugby/X
