But, as they say in the classics… anything can happen in a semi-final! The Stormers and Ulster both won 12 of their 18 fixtures, but the game-changer for the Stormers was picking up two draws, which ensured they finished in second place and gained the valuable home-ground semi-final. Ulster enjoyed a superb league season, finishing in third place on the table just two points behind the Stormers, who finished with 61 points. The Stormers finished second on the table after surprising the pundits at the start of the season.
Libbok restarts the match for the Stormers. 42' Ulster knock on in attack and the Stormers have the scrum feed just outside their 22. 44' Moore kicks straight out and the Stormers will have the lineout feed close to the halfway line. 46' Ulster win a crucial turnover to scupper another Stormers attack and they are happy to boot the ball back into the Stormers half.
53' A great kick by Libbok finds touch ten metres from the hallway line where Ulster will have the lineout feed. 56' A bizarre call from Adamson gives Ulster a big chance to put the game beyond the Stormers. They set up another lineout with their ill-gotten penalty kick. 57' Ulster lose it as they try to break away from the maul and the Stormers have a defensive scrum. 59' After a few energetic carries, Janties clears with a high box-kick and though it doesn't go out Willemse knocks it into touch in a tackle and Ulster have a scrum ten inside the Stormers half. 61' The Stormers think they are away but play is called back for a forward pass and Ulster have a scrum ten inside their own half.
They are on an eight-game winning streak, with the match before they being the dramatic 22-22 draw with the Bulls. Ulster have won their last three matches… but they lost their three previous matches, including a 23-20 loss to the Stormers here in Cape Town! G'Day and welcome to the Cape Town Stadium for our coverage of this second semi-final of the United Rugby Championships between the Stormers and Ulster.