Exclusive: Stormers’ Title Credentials Strengthened After Derby Dogfight, says Gcobani Bobo

The North–South Derby lived up to its billing as the Stormers edged the Bulls 13–8 in a tense, low-scoring encounter at Cape Town Stadium. The match was decided in the dying moments, with the Stormers crossing in the 78th minute from a driving maul to secure a dramatic victory.

Former Springbok and SuperSport pundit Gcobani Bobo shared his insights on a bruising contest defined by intensity, physicality, and defensive resolve rather than free-flowing rugby.

North–South Derby

Handling errors plagued both sides throughout the match, but the commitment and physical battle at the breakdown set the tone. The Bulls came into the fixture with a clear plan to dominate collisions, while the Stormers showed resilience in matching that physical challenge.

“You could feel the intensity and the crowd honouring the occasion,” Bobo told SportsBoom.co.za. 

“The breakdown became a real dogfight and halted momentum for both teams. The Bulls came out with more turnovers early on, with Jacques Rudolph fronting up well. The Stormers countered this when Paul de Villiers came on.”

There was debate around the Stormers’ selection choices, particularly keeping De Villiers on the bench, but Bobo defended head coach John Dobson’s thinking.

“I don’t think Dobbo got the selection wrong. In his mind, you want to match the physicality the Bulls bring. Ruan Ackermann offers more in terms of ball carrying, and negating that physical threat was key.”

While the error count stood out, Bobo felt it was understandable given the magnitude of the fixture.

“The Bulls needed this win. The Stormers dominated territory and possession in both halves, but basic errors stopped this from becoming a spectacle. Still, as a rugby purist, I enjoyed the intensity at which the derby was played.”

He added that the Bulls failed to apply sustained pressure in key areas.

“They didn’t take enough shots at the Stormers. Credit must go to the Stormers’ defence—double hits and dominant tackles forced the Bulls backwards.”

Game Management

Referee Griffin Colby had a challenging evening officiating a high-stakes derby.

“The breakdown was difficult to manage and he had his hands full,” said Bobo. 

“There was a lot of comments from players. While officials communicate more these days, it can open the door to questioning and comments [from players].”

Bobo felt Colby improved later in the game but noted that early inconsistencies had already influenced the contest.

"There needed to be a much more sterner way to go about things but he came back strongly in the latter part of the game but the damage has already been done."

Stormers’ Title Credentials

The Stormers remain the only unbeaten side in the competition and are firmly on course for a playoff spot. Bobo sees similarities between this team and the one that lifted the title four years ago.

“What we’re seeing is the ‘dog’ in this Stormers side, the ability to grind out wins. That’s exactly what they had when they won it before.”

“The buy-in from players is clear, and Capetonians will be talking about this win for a long time.”

State of Affairs at the Bulls

The Bulls, meanwhile, face a period of transition after parting ways with assistant coaches Andries Bekker and Chris Rossouw. Head coach Johan Ackermann has reshaped his staff, including the addition of former Lions colleague Neil de Bruin.

Reports suggesting Springbok assistant coaches would assist the Bulls sparked controversy, prompting Ackermann to criticise the media for spreading misinformation. Bobo offered context to the situation.

“Johan worked with SA Rugby and the Springbok setup before joining the Bulls,” he explained. 

“When he got to the Bulls he had to inherit the assistance [Bulls coaches] and in the end what he believed in and what was happening at the Bulls was not aligning.”

“To bring in the intellectual property of coaches coming off an 86% international win rate can only help. Having clarity, alignment, and a different voice can change things—we saw that impact with Tony Brown at the Springboks.”