URC: Memorable Cardiff win over Stormers provides Welsh rugby cheer

The crowd responded to its home heroes. Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones believes the Stormers were affected by the tense atmosphere.

“You could see it on the faces of the Stormers players,” Jones said.

“They were distraught and had no answers.”

Stormers head coach John Dobson warned his players about the Arms Park cauldron, but they could not control the vociferous home support.

Dobson also said pre-match that he was a lover of Welsh rugby and admired entertainer Max Boyce.

At one point, one of Boyce’s most notable songs, Hymns and Arias, was belted out by the Cardiff crowd.

Boyce also had a famous saying to commemorate the occasion. A simple word. “I was there”.

Cardiff fans will be glad they were. Dobson and his Stormers? Not much.

The Stormers can host Cardiff in the quarter-finals in Cape Town and the South Africans will be a different proposition at home. That’s for another day at the end of May.

Cardiff head coach Van Zyl admitted that the epic experience at the Arms Park against some of his fellow countrymen was one of the highlights of his career.

“Coaching wise that will happen,” Van Zyl said.

“It was incredible for so many reasons.

“If you look at the performance of a lot of individuals, it was huge.

“The boys defended well, fought for the jersey and the fans responded to that.”