The Stormers are one win away from competing in back-to-back United Rugby Championship (URC) finals after they beat Bulls 33-21 in front of 44 000 spectators in a riveting North/South derby at Cape Town Stadium on Saturday.
The defending champions will now host Irish side Connacht in next weekend's semi-final, continuing a superb run of form that has now included six straight URC wins over the Bulls.
This was the largest crowd ever seen in South Africa for a URC game, and while tensions were high for much of a contest in which referee Jaco Peyper commanded attention throughout, the Bulls can have no complaints at losing to a side that was simply better on the day.
The Bulls showed immense fight to stay in the match even when they were being outplayed, but it was the Stormers who had more incisive capability with the ball and they ultimately got enough reward.