Inexperienced referee Griffin Colby was not taking any nonsense from the Stormers or Bulls players during their North-South derby in Cape Town at the weekend.
The hosts claimed a narrow 13-8 triumph over their rivals to maintain their winning run in the United Rugby Championship this season, but there could have been a different result after lock Adre Smith spoke out of turn.
Smith had only just come onto the field when he contested a decision far too vociferously for the official’s liking, which led to the visitors being awarded a potentially crucial penalty.
Stormers dissent
The ref blew his whistle, pointed at the transgressor and said: “You’re not going to speak to me like that, penalty against you.”
Springboks star and captain of the Stormers at the time, Damian Willemse, was then summoned by Colby, who explained what the second-row had just said.
“This player has just come onto the field, number 19, and he was shouting, ‘That is a f’ing knock-on’. That is unacceptable; that will not be allowed on this field. The next one will be a yellow card against that player, so speak to him,” he told Willemse.
The South African utility back then tried to explain their frustrations and suggested that their opponents’ possible illegalities were not being picked up, but Colby was not interested in having a discussion.
“That’s not the moment now; the moment is to speak to that player. Thank you,” he added.
Yoh! 😲
The referees are not messing around in 2026 🤣
📺 Stream #VURC on DStv: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw pic.twitter.com/VmDnAzS2Uq
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 3, 2026
Stormers’ late winner
The Bulls failed to take advantage of the Stormers’ ill-discipline, however, with Handre Pollard misfiring from the tee.
Pollard missed a couple of penalty attempts at goal in the second period as they failed to add to the eight points they scored in the opening 43 minutes.
John Dobson’s men duly took advantage of that profligacy and, after a ferocious forward battle, would win the game in the final minute as a dominant driving maul ended in Ntuthuko Mchunu crossing the whitewash.
Smith, after his earlier ill-discipline, actually played a key role in his side’s success, winning some of the small battles at close quarters to alter the momentum.
Mchunu was ultimately the hero, though, as the Stormers made it eight wins in a row in the URC to remain at the top with a game in hand over Glasgow Warriors.
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