By Marco Jacobs | Kairos Sport
United Rugby Championship | 24 October 2026 | DHL Stadium, Cape Town
The DHL Stormers survived a remarkable second-half fightback to beat the Scarlets 52–40 in an entertaining United Rugby Championship clash at DHL Stadium on Saturday, but the victory came with a warning for coach John Dobson.
It took two late tries from replacement flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed to finally settle the contest, securing the Stormers a valuable five-point victory and a try-scoring bonus point.
The Stormers looked to be cruising towards a comfortable home win after building a 33–14 half-time lead. However, a combination of defensive lapses, handling errors and determined Scarlets attacking play turned the contest into a nerve-racking battle that was level at 40–40 with 15 minutes remaining.
Stormers make their early dominance count
The Stormers endured a relatively cagey opening before hooker John McKee was shown a yellow card for an infringement at the breakdown.
The home side capitalised on the numerical advantage almost immediately. After opting for the corner from a penalty, the Stormers used a lineout move to create the opportunity for tighthead prop Zachary Porthen to power over in the 11th minute. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu missed the conversion.
Five minutes later, scrumhalf Haashim Pead produced one of the highlights of the match. Following a superb attacking break and a clever behind-the-back pass, Pead finished the move to score the Stormers’ second try. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to make it 12–0.
Scarlets responded through centre Joe Roberts, who finished a flowing attacking move in the 19th minute. Carwyn Leggatt-Jones converted to reduce the deficit.
The Stormers restored their advantage when Ntuthuko Mchunu crossed in the 28th minute, but the visitors continued to threaten. Ioan Jones produced an excellent finish in the corner three minutes later to keep Scarlets in touch.
Seabelo Senatla then crossed in the 34th minute to secure the Stormers’ bonus-point try, with Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding the extras.
The home side had the final say before the break. After winning another scrum penalty, the Stormers kicked for the corner and scored through veteran forward Deon Fourie, who finished from a driving maul.
The conversion gave the Stormers a commanding 33–14 half-time lead.
Scarlets launch a remarkable comeback
While the result will satisfy the home side, the manner of the performance will give the coaching staff plenty to review ahead of their next fixture.
Scarlets came out with renewed purpose and struck through winger Macs Page, who finished a breakaway move near the posts. Leggatt-Jones converted.
The Stormers then gifted the visitors another opportunity when a loose ball in midfield was claimed by Roberts, who raced away to score unopposed. The conversion brought Scarlets to within five points at 33–28.
The Stormers needed a response, and replacement prop Olly Reid provided it in the 55th minute, scoring from close range after sustained pressure. Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to restore some breathing room at 40–28.
However, the defensive problems continued.
Scarlets captain Josh Macleod crossed in the 60th minute, although Leggatt-Jones missed the conversion. Roberts then completed his hat-trick with another incisive break in the 66th minute, and Leggatt-Jones converted to level the scores at 40–40.
Any thoughts that the contest was effectively over disappeared almost immediately after the restart.
From a position of apparent control at half-time, the Stormers suddenly faced the very real prospect of dropping points at home.
Injuries add to Stormers’ problems
The second half was further complicated by injuries that disrupted the Stormers’ combinations and forced changes across the pack.
Hooker André-Hugo Venter, Fourie, Hacjivah Dayimani and Senatla were among the players affected by injury during the match. The disruption eventually contributed to uncontested scrums, removing one of the Stormers’ strongest weapons after their dominance in the set piece during the opening half.
The injury stoppage involving Scarlets winger Macs Page also brought a concerning moment. Page appeared to strike his head on the turf following a heavy tackle and left the field with assistance to applause from the crowd.
The Stormers had to reorganise under pressure, while Scarlets grew in confidence as the game opened up.
Ahmed settles the contest
With the scores level and the tension rising at DHL Stadium, the Stormers finally found the decisive response.
In the 73rd minute, the home side continued to attack with a penalty advantage after an earlier opportunity had ended with a player stepping into touch. They took a quick tap penalty and spread the ball wide, allowing replacement flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed to finish under the posts.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu converted to put the Stormers back in front at 47–40.
Scarlets refused to surrender and continued attacking in search of another score. But in the 79th minute, Leolin Zas reacted quickly to a loose ball and kicked it forward. Ahmed followed the play, gathered the ball and crossed for his second try of the afternoon.
The conversion was missed, but the damage was done. The Stormers had scored twice in the closing stages to turn a potential upset into a 52–40 victory.
Roberts shines despite Scarlets defeat
Although Scarlets left Cape Town without the win, their performance deserved recognition. The visitors scored six tries and came within touching distance of a famous victory after trailing by 19 points at half-time.
Roberts was particularly influential, finishing with a hat-trick and repeatedly exposing the Stormers’ defensive weaknesses. The Scarlets attack found space too easily at times, and their ability to punish mistakes nearly changed the outcome.
For the Stormers, Pead’s try and contribution to the attack, Senatla’s finishing and Ahmed’s decisive double were among the positives. Reid also made an impact off the bench, while the scrum provided a strong platform before injuries disrupted the forward pack.