Cardiff Seeks Upset Against Stormers After Being Labeled 'Easiest' Opponent
In a bold statement, Stormers director of rugby John Dobson referred to Cardiff as the "easiest" opponents in the upcoming United Rugby Championship quarter-finals. This matchup marks Cardiff's first playoff appearance, set for Saturday at 14:30 BST in Cape Town, after finishing sixth in the standings. Despite the label, Cardiff aims to defy expectations, having previously defeated the Stormers 22-16 at the Arms Park just two weeks prior, a result that dropped the South Africans to third place in the table behind Glasgow and Leinster. Dobson expressed relief at avoiding tougher opponents like 2023 champions Munster and Connacht, who had previously triumphed in Cape Town, stating: "It's probably the easiest of the quarter-finals." "If we won in Cardiff, we would have played the Lions, and I think we'd be a lot more angst-ridden than we are about Cardiff." Josh Adams, Wales wing, noted that Cardiff would take Dobson's comments with "a pinch of salt," while Van Zyl emphasized the pressure on the Stormers, saying: "It makes it even better." "It's a nice little challenge, and it will come down to the 80 minutes." Though Cardiff has struggled outside Wales, securing only one win this season against Zebre, Van Zyl remains optimistic: "I know people will be writing us off, but we will have a good crack at it and see what happens." With the stakes high and the pressure mounting, Cardiff is set to challenge the narrative as they enter this critical quarter-final.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-05-28