Hurricanes No.2 Ricky Riccitelli and his teammates mustn’t expect any Christmas cards from Cape Town this year.
Instead, the Stormers are fuming at their Kiwi counterparts after Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter at Newlands.
Despite winning the match 27-0, the Stormers are unhappy after losing captain Siya Kolisi for six to eight weeks because of a knee injury.
Kolisi was victim of a late tackle by Riccitelli in a match that was marred by ill discipline by the Kiwis.
Cape coach John Dobson is not a happy man, saying: “I thought that was a mean-spirited game that was not good for the tournament going forward. I don’t think it has anything to do with the refereeing - it was very subtle stuff.
ANGER: Boss John Dobson
“But when we reviewed the game a few times, we were more and more angry.
“Pieter-Steph du Toit went through quite a hard time. There was one movement where Seabelo [Senatla’s] hair was pulled twice.
“We weren’t happy with that game at all - we weren’t happy with lots of things that happened.
UNSPORTING: Ricky Riccitelli's late tackle on Siya Kolisi
“[Referee] Jaco Peyper worked very hard in that game - apparently Riccitelli has apologised to Siya, but I think it’s fair to say Siya’s not happy either.”
Meanwhile, hooker Bongi Mbonambi is also out for two to six weeks because of a hamstring injury.