Stormers sweating on Damian Willemse red card ahead of URC playoffs

The Stormers made sure of their place in the last-eight of the competition following a 34-24 bonus-point victory at the DHL Stadium but the win might have come at a cost.

Willemse was given his marching orders in the second half for a high hit on Cardiff wing Gabe Hamer-Webb, the Springbok's shoulder clashing with the opponents head in contact.

Addressing the media after the game, Dobson said: "I haven't seen it enough to comment on what the impact is. He was stuck. I don't think he was trying to hit with the shoulder. I think he was trying to turn.

"The implications, I'm sure, are going to be poor for us. I've got no doubt. We can't appeal until there is a decision. I don't see them overturning that. It's a disaster for us."

Dobson went on to praise his team's win after a seeing off a spirited effort from the Welsh outfit.

The home team scored five tries in the contest - with wingers Suleiman Hartzenberg and Leolin Zas each scoring a brace - to Cardiff's four.

Dobson added: "As good as they were, and they fought and they were organised and never really went away, I don't think we ever really looked like losing. That's a good performance given the changes.

"It's nice that we've played four teams with really good attacks over the last four weeks. It's a good playoff test.

"The whole thing today was to keep our momentum, protect some players and say goodbye to some guys who won't play another home game. I think we got all that right."

The Stormers will wait on Saturday's results to determine whether they'll face the Sharks in Durban or travel to Scotland to battle defending champions Glasgow Warriors in the knockouts. 

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