The Stormers kicked off their 2025-26 Vodacom URC campaign with a confidence-boosting bonus-point win against Leinster in Cape Town on Friday night.

Both sides were understrength for this opening match of the tournament, with the Irish giants missing their rested British & Irish Lions and the hosts without their Springbok contingent and other players on the injured list.

But it was the Stormers who dominated possession and territory – and convincingly won the scrum and aerial battles – to triumph 35-0.

Jurie Matthee got the Cape franchise on the board from an early scrum penalty, but the flyhalf was off target with his next two attempts at goal.

The visitors continued to struggle up front, lost a couple of lineouts and conceded six consecutive penalties. They appeared to be punished when Paul de Villiers went over from a Stormers lineout maul but the try was disallowed due to obstruction.

Matthee’s boot doubled the hosts’ lead before a forward pass cut short Wandisile Simelane’s try celebrations.

Matthee, though, made it 9-0 shortly after the break, and Seabelo Senatla then capitalised on a poor Leinster kick by putting Stefan Ungerer away.

That killer instinct. #STOvLEI #inittogether pic.twitter.com/VJKDOYwXD7

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 26, 2025

No sooner had the visitors been reduced to 14 men for a cynical infringement than the impressive Evan Roos powered over from a lineout maul.

The unstoppable force 💪 #STOvLEI #inittogether pic.twitter.com/RfNnSlfNxO

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) September 26, 2025

Leinster then went down to 13 when Tommy O’Brien was carded for head contact and Roos went over for his second.

Matthee converted both, before scoring his side’s bonus-point try.

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images