They also became the second team in Super Rugby history to lose all their round robin matches, joining the Bulls side of 2002.

The Bulls' normal home, Loftus Versfeld, was unavailable because it was used as a venue for the 2010 FIFA World Cup being held in South Africa beginning 11 June.

Under FIFA rules, all World Cup venues must be handed over to the local organisers no later than 15 days before the opening match of the competition.

The game was surrounded in controversy after Schalk Burger claimed that the referee Craig Joubert was inconsistent at the breakdowns, "coaching the Bulls, but penalising the Stormers".

André Watson, the head of South Africa's Rugby Referees, released a statement in which he defended Joubert's performance.