The Stormers set back the Cheetahs’ playoff hopes by beating the latter 28-3 in their South African Super Rugby derby on Saturday.
Flankers Deon Fourie and Siya Kolisi scored tries in each half, and Bryan Habana’s 71st-minute score made certain there was no way back for the clumsy Cheetahs.
The Cheetahs could register only a Riaan Smit penalty in a surprisingly flat performance on Super Rugby’s return.
The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs appeared to be the team to have lost the most momentum after the month-long break for internationals, showing none of the attacking flair that led them to their best Super Rugby season so far.
The Cheetahs remain sixth and in the final playoff place with two rounds remaining.