Stormers edge desperate Cheetahs

However, the Stormers will be concerned about the fitness of young flyhalf Robert du Preez, who hobbled off in the 44th minute with a knee injury – later being observed with an ice pack on a medial ligament area.

The Stormers edged ahead on the scoreboard with just over half-an-hour to go – after the teams were deadlocked at 7-all for almost 40 minutes – when the Cheetahs' star lock Lodewyk de Jager was sin-binned for a high tackle.

Try as they might, the Cheetahs could not close the gap and in becoming ever more desperate they created opportunities for the Stormers to close out the game through penalties.

Springboks Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit dominated the line-outs to set up the triumph for the Stormers.

Despite opposing 2015 South African Player of the Year Lodewyk de Jager, the Stormers duo stole numerous Cheetahs throws at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

De Jager, who starred for the Boks at the 2015 World Cup, was sin-binned on 48 minutes for a high tackle and Stormers took advantage of the numerical superiority to score a crucial second try.

"It is awesome playing with Pieter-Steph," said Etzebeth of Du Toit, a close-season signing from fellow Super Rugby franchise the Sharks.

"We are really enjoying ourselves playing under new coach Robbie Fleck. There is freedom to express yourself and I enjoy that."

The teams were level at 7-all going into the break during a typical South African derby saturated with physicality and strong defending.

Stormers regained the lead on 55 minutes when sustained ball-in-hand pressure brought the visitors steadily closer to the try-line before loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe barged over.

Kurt Coleman, an early second-half substitute for injured flyhalf Robert du Preez, converted from in front of the posts to give Stormers a 14-7 advantage.

Rival playmaker Fred Zeilinga trimmed the deficit to four points via a penalty before Coleman slotted two of his own to earn Stormers a second successive success at the start of the season.

It was the fifth consecutive loss suffered by Cheetahs against Stormers and left them, Queensland Reds and Wellington Hurricanes nursing the disappointment of two straight losses.

Although outplayed at the line-outs, the Bloemfontein outfit excelled in the scrums with new loose-head Charles Marais outstanding.

"It is never easy playing in Bloemfontein so we are happy with the win," said Stormers co-captain and centre Juan de Jongh.

"Eben and Pieter-Steph were outstanding in the line-outs, but we have some work to do on our scrummaging.

"Our policy this season is to attack and we tried to do that whenever possible tonight," added the Springbok.

Cheetahs centre and skipper Francois Venter said: "We were great in the scrums and struggled in the line-outs. The team needed more front-foot ball."

Stormers broke the deadlock after 16 minutes of the first half with a superb try by winger Leolin Zas, who played only because Kobus van Wyk was injured.

Quick handling in midfield delivered the ball to Zas, who gave the Cheetahs defence no chance with a blistering break down the left wing. Du Preez converted the try.

Erratic goal-kicker Zeilinga missed a penalty before converting a superb try by Venter, who finished off slick handling from a line-out.

Man of the match: Lodewyk de Jager, before his yellow card, was definitely the Cheetahs' most productive player and his duel with fellow Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was the highlight of an otherwise disappointing game. Raymond Rhule also had his moments, but the Cheetahs' most consistent player was captain Francois Venter – both with and without the ball. Robert du Preez was impressive enough before his injury-enforced departure early in the second half, rookie Leolin Zass had his moments, while Nizaam Carr and Sikhumbuzo Notshe were a constant presence at the breakdown ad on defence. However, the man who gad the biggest impact on the Stormers' performance was Bok lock Eben Etzebeth – with his numerous line-out steals and physical presence around the park. There was some valuable help for Pieter-Steph du Toit, but Etzebeth gets our award.

The scorers:

For the Cheetahs

Try: Venter

Con: Zeilinga

Pen: Zeilinga

For the Stormers:

Tries: Zass, Notshe

Cons: Du Preez, Coleman

Pens: Coleman 2

Yellow card: Lodewyk de Jager (Cheetahs, 48 – foul play, high tackle)

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter (captain), 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Lodewyk de Jager, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Nicolaas van Dyk, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Charles Marais.

Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Francois Uys, 20 Boom Prinsloo, 21 Henco Venter, 22 Tian Meyer, 23 Niel Marais.

Stormers: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Juan de Jongh (co-captain), 11 Leolin Zass, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Schalk Burger, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble.

Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 Frans Malherbe (co-captain), 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Siyamthanda Kolisi, 21 Nic Groom, 22 Kurt Coleman, 23 Huw Jones.

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Rodney Bonaparte (South Africa), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)

TMO: Willie Vos (South Africa)