# 2018 Stormers season

In 2018, the Stormers participated in the 2018 Super Rugby competition, the 23rd edition of the competition since its inception in 1996. They were included in the South African Conference of the competition, along with the Bulls, Jaguares, Lions and Sharks.
The Stormers won six and lost ten of their matches during the regular season of the competition to finish fourth in the South African Conference, and in 11th place overall.

## Personnel
### Coaches and management

The Stormers coaching and management staff for the 2018 Super Rugby season were:
| 2018 Stormers coaches and management |
| Name | Title |
| Robbie Fleck | Head coach |
| Russell Winter | Assistant coach (forwards and contact) |
| Paul Treu | Assistant coach (structured play) |
| Paul Feeney | Assistant coach (backs and skills) |
| Steph du Toit | Strength and conditioning coach |
| Human Kriek | Strength and conditioning coach |
| Gareth Wright | Kicking coach |
| Wayne Hector | Physiotherapist |
| Anuerin Robin | Physiotherapist |
| Greg Daniels | Masseur |
| Karen Schwabe | Team doctor |

### Squad

The following players were named in the Stormers squad for the 2018 Super Rugby season:
| 2018 Stormers squad |
| Player | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Super Rugby | Super Rugby | Stormers | Stormers |
| Player | Position/s | Date of birth (age) | Apps | Pts | Apps | Pts |
| Juarno Augustus | Loose forward | (1997-12-09)9 December 1997 (aged 20) | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Craig Barry | Fullback | (1992-04-30)30 April 1992 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nizaam Carr | Loose forward | (1991-04-04)4 April 1991 (aged 26) | 82 | 40 | 82 | 40 |
| Jaco Coetzee | Loose forward | (1996-06-10)10 June 1996 (aged 21) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Damian de Allende | Centre | (1991-11-25)25 November 1991 (aged 26) | 61 | 50 | 61 | 50 |
| Jan de Klerk | Lock | (1991-02-10)10 February 1991 (aged 27) | 9 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| Paul de Wet | Scrum-half | (1996-03-16)16 March 1996 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stephan de Wit | Loose forward | (1992-01-01)1 January 1992 (aged 26) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Daniël du Plessis | Centre | (1995-03-17)17 March 1995 (aged 22) | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Jean-Luc du Plessis | Fly-half | (1994-05-07)7 May 1994 (aged 23) | 14 | 150 | 14 | 150 |
| Johan du Toit | Lock | (1995-09-08)8 September 1995 (aged 22) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Pieter-Steph du Toit | Lock | (1992-08-20)20 August 1992 (aged 25) | 54 | 15 | 27 | 15 |
| Dewaldt Duvenage | Scrum-half | (1988-05-22)22 May 1988 (aged 29) | 79 | 40 | 79 | 40 |
| JJ Engelbrecht | Centre | (1989-02-22)22 February 1989 (aged 28) | 65 | 45 | 0 | 0 |
| Eben Etzebeth | Lock | (1991-10-29)29 October 1991 (aged 26) | 54 | 20 | 54 | 20 |
| Neethling Fouché | Prop | (1993-01-10)10 January 1993 (aged 25) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JC Janse van Rensburg | Prop | (1986-01-09)9 January 1986 (aged 32) | 77 | 5 | 24 | 0 |
| Herschel Jantjies | Scrum-half | (1996-04-22)22 April 1996 (aged 21) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steven Kitshoff | Prop | (1992-02-10)10 February 1992 (aged 26) | 63 | 0 | 63 | 0 |
| Siya Kolisi | Loose forward | (1991-06-16)16 June 1991 (aged 26) | 89 | 70 | 89 | 70 |
| Dan Kriel | Centre | (1994-02-15)15 February 1994 (aged 24) | 13 | 0 | 10 | 0 |
| Dillyn Leyds | Wing | (1992-09-12)12 September 1992 (aged 25) | 38 | 80 | 35 | 80 |
| Wilco Louw | Prop | (1994-07-20)20 July 1994 (aged 23) | 17 | 5 | 17 | 5 |
| Frans Malherbe | Prop | (1991-03-14)14 March 1991 (aged 26) | 79 | 15 | 79 | 15 |
| SP Marais | Fullback | (1989-03-16)16 March 1989 (aged 28) | 58 | 90 | 12 | 72 |
| Bongi Mbonambi | Hooker | (1991-01-07)7 January 1991 (aged 27) | 61 | 5 | 46 | 5 |
| Salmaan Moerat | Lock | (1998-06-03)3 June 1998 (aged 19) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dean Muir | Hooker | (1989-02-06)6 February 1989 (aged 29) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sikhumbuzo Notshe | Loose forward | (1993-05-28)28 May 1993 (aged 24) | 38 | 60 | 38 | 60 |
| Scarra Ntubeni | Hooker | (1991-02-18)18 February 1991 (aged 26) | 45 | 20 | 45 | 20 |
| Caylib Oosthuizen | Prop | (1989-09-01)1 September 1989 (aged 28) | 28 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Sergeal Petersen | Wing | (1994-08-01)1 August 1994 (aged 23) | 28 | 60 | 0 | 0 |
| Justin Phillips | Scrum-half | (1995-02-03)3 February 1995 (aged 23) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Raymond Rhule | Wing | (1992-11-06)6 November 1992 (aged 25) | 66 | 95 | 0 | 0 |
| Carlü Sadie | Prop | (1997-05-07)7 May 1997 (aged 20) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ramone Samuels | Hooker | (1994-11-03)3 November 1994 (aged 23) | 19 | 5 | 16 | 5 |
| JD Schickerling | Lock | (1995-05-09)9 May 1995 (aged 22) | 17 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Seabelo Senatla | Wing | (1993-02-10)10 February 1993 (aged 25) | 14 | 25 | 14 | 25 |
| Joshua Stander | Fly-half | (1994-01-01)1 January 1994 (aged 24) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kobus van Dyk | Loose forward | (1994-07-06)6 July 1994 (aged 23) | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Chris van Zyl | Lock | (1986-07-12)12 July 1986 (aged 31) | 13 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Alistair Vermaak | Prop | (1989-04-28)28 April 1989 (aged 28) | 24 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| Jano Vermaak | Scrum-half | (1985-01-01)1 January 1985 (aged 33) | 120 | 108 | 16 | 5 |
| EW Viljoen | Fullback | (1995-05-09)9 May 1995 (aged 22) | 16 | 20 | 16 | 20 |
| George Whitehead | Fly-half | (1989-03-17)17 March 1989 (aged 28) | 18 | 33 | 0 | 0 |
| Cobus Wiese | Loose forward | (1997-06-02)2 June 1997 (aged 20) | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Damian Willemse | Fly-half | (1998-05-07)7 May 1998 (aged 19) | 5 | 32 | 5 | 32 |
| Eduard Zandberg | Lock | (1996-02-14)14 February 1996 (aged 22) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 17 February 2018, the date of the opening round of the competition. |

## Standings

The final standings for the 2018 Super Rugby season were:
2018 Super Rugby: Overall standings :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Crusaders | 16 | 14 | 0 | 2 | 542 | 295 | +247 | 77 | 39 | 7 | 0 | 63 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals. |
| 2 | Lions | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 519 | 435 | +84 | 77 | 55 | 6 | 4 | 46 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals. |
| 3 | Waratahs | 16 | 9 | 1 | 6 | 557 | 445 | +112 | 74 | 59 | 4 | 2 | 44 | Conference leaders Qualified to the finals. |
| 4 | Hurricanes | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 474 | 343 | +131 | 66 | 43 | 5 | 2 | 51 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 5 | Chiefs | 16 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 463 | 368 | +95 | 60 | 48 | 3 | 2 | 49 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 6 | Highlanders | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 437 | 445 | −8 | 59 | 57 | 3 | 1 | 44 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 7 | Jaguares | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 409 | 418 | −9 | 51 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 38 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 8 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 437 | 442 | −5 | 49 | 57 | 2 | 4 | 36 | Wildcard teams Qualified to finals. |
| 9 | Rebels | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 440 | 461 | −21 | 57 | 60 | 5 | 3 | 36 | |
| 10 | Brumbies | 16 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 393 | 422 | −29 | 56 | 52 | 2 | 4 | 34 | |
| 11 | Stormers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 390 | 423 | −33 | 46 | 56 | 0 | 5 | 29 | |
| 12 | Bulls | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 441 | 502 | −61 | 59 | 66 | 2 | 3 | 29 | |
| 13 | Reds | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 389 | 501 | −112 | 49 | 66 | 1 | 3 | 28 | |
| 14 | Blues | 16 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 378 | 509 | −131 | 50 | 66 | 2 | 4 | 22 | |
| 15 | Sunwolves | 16 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 404 | 664 | −260 | 48 | 99 | 0 | 2 | 14 | |
South African Conference :
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TF | TA | TB | LB | Pts |
| 1 | Lions | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 519 | 435 | +84 | 77 | 55 | 6 | 4 | 46 |
| 2 | Jaguares | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 409 | 418 | −9 | 51 | 55 | 2 | 0 | 38 |
| 3 | Sharks | 16 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 437 | 442 | −5 | 49 | 57 | 2 | 4 | 36 |
| 4 | Stormers | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 390 | 423 | −33 | 46 | 56 | 0 | 5 | 29 |
| 5 | Bulls | 16 | 6 | 0 | 10 | 441 | 502 | −61 | 59 | 66 | 2 | 3 | 29 |
* Competition rules
* Qualification: Eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #3 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #4 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the three conference winners and the highest-ranked wildcard team will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner (Team #1) hosting the fifth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #8) in quarter-final 1, the second-seeded conference winner (Team #2) hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #7) in quarter-final 3, the third-seeded conference winner (Team #3) hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry (Team #6) in quarter-final 4 and the top-seeded wildcard entry (Team #4) hosting the second-seed wildcard entry (Team #5) in quarter-final 2. The Quarter Final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 2 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 3 and 4, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
* Tournament points breakdown: * 4 tournament points for a win * 2 tournament points for a draw * 1 tournament bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 tournament bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
* Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Conference leaders * Tournament points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference * Coin toss

### Round-by-round

The table below shows the Stormers' progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position:
| Team | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | R9 | R10 | R11 | R12 | R13 | R14 | R15 | R16 | R17 | R18 | R19 | QF | SF | Final |
| Opposition | JAG | WAR | CRU | HIG | BLU | RED | BUL | LIO | Bye | SHA | REB | BUL | CHI | SUN | LIO | Bye | JAG | SHA | Bye | — | — | — |
| Cumulative Points | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 29 | 29 | — | — | — |
| Position (overall) | 1st | 4th | 6th | 11th | 8th | 8th | 9th | 11th | 11th | 12th | 10th | 9th | 11th | 11th | 10th | 10th | 12th | 11th | 11th | — | — | — |
| Position (SA Conf.) | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 2nd | 2nd | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 5th | 4th | 5th | 5th | 4th | 4th | 5th | 4th | 4th | — | — | — |
| Key: | win | draw | loss | bye | |

## Matches

The Stormers played the following matches during the 2018 Super Rugby season:

## Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Stormers in 2018 is as follows:
| 2018 Stormers player statistics |
| Player name | JAG | WAR | CRU | HIG | BLU | RED | BUL | LIO | SHA | REB | BUL | CHI | SUN | LIO | JAG | SHA | QF | SF | F | | App | Try | Con | Pen | DG | Pts |
| Steven Kitshoff | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 17 | 1 | 17 | — | — | — | | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Ramone Samuels | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 16 | 16 | — | — | — | | 16 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Wilco Louw | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 18 | — | — | — | | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Chris van Zyl | 4 | 19 | | 5 | 5 | 19 | 19 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | | | — | — | — | | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| JD Schickerling | 5 | 4 | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | | 19 | — | — | — | | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Siya Kolisi | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 6 | 6 | | — | — | — | | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Cobus Wiese | 7 | | 7 | | 20 | 7 | 7 | | | 19 | 19 | 19 | 6 | 19 | 4 | 4 | — | — | — | | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Nizaam Carr | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 8 | 20 | 21 | | — | — | — | | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dewaldt Duvenage | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | | | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | — | — | — | | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Damian Willemse | 10 | 10 | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | | | | — | — | — | | 11 | 3 | 19 | 15 | 0 | 98 |
| Raymond Rhule | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | | 11 | 11 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 11 | — | — | — | | 15 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 |
| Damian de Allende | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | — | — | — | | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| EW Viljoen | 13 | 23 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | | | | 23 | 23 | 13 | — | — | — | | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Seabelo Senatla | 14 | | 14 | | | | | | | 23 | 23 | 23 | 11 | | | | — | — | — | | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dillyn Leyds | 15 | 14 | 10 | 14 | 15 | | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | — | — | — | | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Dean Muir | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| JC Janse van Rensburg | 17 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Carlü Sadie | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | | | 17 | | | | — | — | — | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jan de Klerk | 19 | | 19 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | | | | 19 | 4 | 5 | 5 | — | — | — | | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Kobus van Dyk | 20 | 7 | 20 | 7 | | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 6 | — | — | — | | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Justin Phillips | 21 | 21 | 22 | 21 | | 22 | 9 | | | | | | | | 22 | | — | — | — | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| George Whitehead | 22 | 22 | 23 | 22 | | 15 | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| JJ Engelbrecht | 23 | 13 | | 23 | 14 | | | | 23 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | — | — | — | | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Pieter-Steph du Toit | | 5 | 5 | | 7 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | | 7 | 7 | — | — | — | | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| SP Marais | | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | 15 | 15 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 15 | | | | — | — | — | | 10 | 2 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 52 |
| Sikhumbuzo Notshe | | 20 | 21 | 20 | | 21 | 21 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 21 | 8 | 8 | 8 | — | — | — | | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Salmaan Moerat | | | | 19 | 19 | | | | | | | | | | 19 | | — | — | — | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Neethling Fouché | | | | | 18 | | | | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaco Coetzee | | | | | 21 | | | 21 | | | | | | 21 | | | — | — | — | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Paul de Wet | | | | | 22 | | | 22 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | | | — | — | — | | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Craig Barry | | | | | 23 | 14 | 23 | 23 | 14 | 14 | | | | 14 | 14 | 23 | — | — | — | | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Joshua Stander | | | | | | 23 | | | | | | | | | | 10 | — | — | — | | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Scarra Ntubeni | | | | | | | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | | | | — | — | — | | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jano Vermaak | | | | | | | 22 | 9 | | | | | | | | | — | — | — | | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Frans Malherbe | | | | | | | | | | | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 3 | — | — | — | | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jean-Luc du Plessis | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | 22 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | — | — | — | | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 19 |
| Bongi Mbonambi | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 16 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Juarno Augustus | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 20 | — | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Johan du Toit | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 21 | — | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Herschel Jantjies | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 22 | — | — | — | | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | penalty try | | – | 1 | – | – | – | 7 |
| Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | Total | 16 | 46 | 37 | 28 | 0 | 390 |
(c) denotes the team captain. For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Con" to the number of conversions kicked, "Pen" to the number of penalties kicked, "DG" to the number of drop goals kicked and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.
* Stephan de Wit, Daniël du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Dan Kriel, Caylib Oosthuizen, Sergeal Petersen, Alistair Vermaak and Eduard Zandberg did not make any appearances.