The Stormers started their season with an emphatic 54-12 win over a second-string Western Force at Newlands on Saturday but it was difficult to gauge where the two teams stand at this early stage of the season.

The Stormers hit the ground running and wracked up a 21-0 lead by the 12 th minute. By half time the score was 41-0, running in six tries.

The second half was a different story as Force coach John Mitchell, ringed the changes to his inexperienced side. The Western Force won the second half 12-10.

The match was marred by red cards for Wallaby prop Matt Dunning and Stormers flank Jacques Potgieter. Dunning punched the flank in full view of referee Mark Lawrence and Potgieter foolishly retaliated.

Allister Coetzee, Stormers coach was disappointed with their discipline but happy with defense and kicking game. “I'm fairly satisfied with most of those aspects. The defence was again outstanding and the execution of our kicking game and chasing was good. Our discipline at the breakdown let us down a few times for not rolling away, which is an area we will have to address.”

Stormers newcomers Bryan Habana and Jaque Fourie both had impressive debuts. Habana scored from close range while Fourie was instrumental in defence and in freeing his outside backs with straight running and sharp passing.

The Force meet the Sharks at Newlands on Tuesday in the second match of the Tri-series before the Stormers and the Sharks square off at the same venue on Friday.

In other warm-up matches on Saturday

The Queensland Reds scored a morale-boosting pre-season 26-24 win against their neighbours, the NSW Waratahs.

The Highlanders overcame a 19-5 deficit to defeat last season’s Vodacom Super 14 finalists, the Chiefs, 31-24.

The Blues clinched a thrilling 19-17 victory over the Hurricanes.