Springboks centre Jaque Fourie scored two high-quality tries as the Stormers outplayed the seven-time Super 14 champion Crusaders 42-14.

Fourie beat four defenders as he ran 50 metres for the Stormers' first try on Friday, then finished a sublime backline move in the final minute to help the Cape Town team to its eighth win in 11 games.

Five-eighth Peter Grant kicked 27 points to make amends for a mistake that gave opposite number Daniel Carter an early try for Canterbury.

Wing Sireli Naqelevuki scored between the posts to round off a Stormers' counterattack in the 73rd minute.

Colin Slade touched down for a late consolation for New Zealand's Crusaders before Fourie ran in his second try of the night to put the South African team on course for a home semi-final with two regular season games remaining.

"We knew it was never going to be easy," Fourie said.

"It was always going to be hard work and we came out and we showed it. Against a team like the Crusaders, to get 40 points, yes I think we deserve it."

Grant landed seven penalties as the Crusaders, who had No.8 Kieran Read yellow-carded just before halftime, were punished for persistent infringements.

Grant's only slip was in the eighth minute when he took too long to clear and Carter charged down the kick and collected his first try of the season.

But the Crusaders failed to add to that until the 76th minute as the Stormers scored 29 unanswered points and became the first South African team to beat all five New Zealand outfits in a season.

"We got outplayed tonight," said Crusaders captain Richie McCaw, who made his 100th Super rugby appearance.

"It wasn't through a lack of trying but we came up against a pretty good Stormers team who put us under pressure. They deserved to win, there's no question about that."

Fourie put the Stormers in control soon after halftime when he stepped inside two tacklers and went on a 50-metre run down the middle of the field. The Springboks centre outpaced the cover defence and powered past two more Canterbury players for the game's crucial score.

Grant moved the Stormers 28-7 ahead with three more penalties.

Crusaders wing Sean Maitland dropped the ball in the final 10 minutes as he stretched out for the tryline and minutes later Naqelevuki collected a kick through from Juan de Jongh and dotted down after a break out from deep inside the Stormers half.

Slade scored the Crusaders' second try when he held onto a crosskick from replacement Andy Ellis.

But Fourie sealed an impressive Stormers victory in the final move of the match after an inside pass from fullback Gio Aplon.

"I'm very proud of the way the players embraced the challenge," coach Allister Coetzee said.

"But I think I would be very naughty to think about the semi-finals, we've got two tough games ahead of us."

The Stormers finish the regular season with local games against the Sharks and the defending champion Bulls. The team last made the semi-finals in 2004 and has never qualified for a Super rugby final.

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