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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Smith had only just come onto the field when he contested a decision far too vociferously for the official\u2019s liking, which led to the visitors being awarded a potentially crucial penalty.<\/p>\n
Stormers dissent<\/p>\n
The ref blew his whistle, pointed at the transgressor and said: \u201cYou\u2019re not going to speak to me like that, penalty against you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Springboks<\/a> star and captain of the Stormers<\/a> at the time, Damian Willemse, was then summoned by Colby, who explained what the second-row had just said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis player has just come onto the field, number 19, and he was shouting, \u2018That is a f\u2019ing knock-on\u2019. 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,\u201d he told Willemse.<\/p>\n The South African utility back then tried to explain their frustrations and suggested that their opponents\u2019 possible illegalities were not being picked up, but Colby was not interested in having a discussion.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s not the moment now; the moment is to speak to that player. Thank you,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Stormers v Bulls: Five takeaways as Springboks 10s fall short of \u2018standards\u2019 in gripping derby decided by Le Roux\u2019s \u2018all-or-nothing gamble\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Yoh! \ud83d\ude32<\/p>\n The referees are not messing around in 2026 \ud83e\udd23<\/p>\n \ud83d\udcfa Stream #VURC<\/a> on DStv: https:\/\/t.co\/0P0NNhnwKw<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VmDnAzS2Uq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) January 3, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Stormers\u2019 late winner<\/p>\n The Bulls<\/a> failed to take advantage of the Stormers\u2019 ill-discipline, however, with Handre Pollard misfiring from the tee.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n John Dobson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n Smith, after his earlier ill-discipline, actually played a key role in his side\u2019s success, winning some of the small battles at close quarters to alter the momentum.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as\u00a0a preferred source on Google to your favourites list<\/a>\u00a0for world-class coverage you can trust.<\/p>\n