It was especially in the second half, when the home team sped up play and shifted the ball out wide, that the DHL Stormers paid the price. Wes Goosen, who was born in East London, scored two of the Hurricanes’ five tries, both after the break.

The final nail was hammered into the Capetonians’ coffin by All Black flyhalf Beauden Barrett, with his first try of the year in the 72^nd minute.

The home team then had to work hard to keep the DHL Stormers out in the final moments of the match for their third consecutive home victory over the men in blue and white, whose pack of forwards put in a very good performance on the night.

Leading by 21-15 at half-time, the DHL Stormers managed to keep the pressure on the Kiwis, but apart missing crucial tackles, they also didn’t capitalise on the opportunities they created. The visitors also failed to relieve pressure with their tactical kicking.

Springboks Siya Kolisi and Bongi Mbonambi scored first-half tries for the DHL Stormers, while replacement flanker Jaco Coetzee added his name to the score sheet after the break, and SP Marais added 13 points with the boot.

Injuries to a number of their forwards disrupted the DHL Stormers’ momentum – they lost locks JD Schickerling and Salmaan Moerat, as well as Coetzee in the second half, which meant that Mbonambi had to return to the field and finished the game at flank.

Scorers:

Hurricanes 34 (15) – Tries: Ben May, Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen (2), Beauden Barrett. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (3). Penalty goal: Beauden Barrett.

DHL Stormers 28 (21) – Tries: Siya Kolisi, Bongi Mbonambi, Jaco Coetzee. Conversions: SP Marais (2). Penalty goals: Marais (3).