Stormers' coach, John Dobson, pinpoints a singular critical enhancement to transform his team into serious title contenders after a rollercoaster season. Despite an explosive start in the 2025-26 Vodacom URC with eight consecutive wins, the Cape Town squad's campaign fizzled out, marred by pivotal losses and ending shy of the finals they once seemed destined to dominate.
The season’s narrative took a harsh turn with defeats both at home and away against the Sharks, a stumble at Ellis Park against the Lions, and an unexpected defeat by Connacht. These setbacks not only halted their momentum but also positioned them unfavorably for the playoffs. Though they clinched a home quarter-final, their journey was cut short in Dublin, where Leinster claimed a 20-11 semi-final victory.
Dobson has zeroed in on attacking efficiency as the critical area for improvement.
"The big concern for us would be some elements on attack,"
Dobson revealed. He emphasized the need to refine their playmaking, particularly around their two contrasting fly-halves, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Jurie Matthee.A telling statistic caught Dobson's eye, highlighting a dissonance between territorial dominance and scoring efficiency.
"We were No 2 or 3 in the URC for 22m entries, which means you’re doing a lot right on attack and putting the opposition under pressure,"
he explained."But we’re second last for points per entry. We fix that, we’d be top of the log by a distance."
Achieving closer to three points per entry, he believes, would revolutionize their standings.Transition play remains a cornerstone of the Stormers' strategy, aiming to exploit set-piece pressure and scoring opportunities during transitions. The emphasis has also shifted towards mastering contestable kicks, a tactic where Dobson feels there's significant room for growth, inspired by techniques seen in international play.
With a renewed focus on these tactical adjustments, the Stormers are poised to not only patch up their game but potentially lead the pack in the upcoming URC and Champions Cup campaigns.