Stormers coach John Dobson heaped praise on his charges despite their 35-26 loss to the Leicester Tigers on Sunday.
Handre Pollard scored 20 points against a side from his native South Africa as Leicester Tigers ground out a nervy 35-26 victory against a depleted Stormers in their opening match of this season's Investec Champions Cup.
The Stormers will break new ground when they face Leicester Tigers for the first time in their history in Sunday's Champions Cup opener at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.
The Stormers secured a hard-fought 31-7 victory over Zebre Parma in the United Rugby Championship, marking their return to winning form.
World Cup-winning Springboks Damian Willemse, Manie Libbok and Deon Fourie have all been named in the Stormers' starting line-up for the United Rugby Championship encounter with Zebre Parma in Stellenbosch on Saturday.
The Stormers suffered a heartbreaking last-minute defeat against Cardiff at the Arms Park after a late try from replacement prop Rhys Litterick handed the Welsh side a 31-24 victory.