It was a close shave for the Stormers as they barely clung to a 34-27 victory against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium. After trailing at the break, they flipped the script in the second half, thanks to some strategic substitutions and a gritty defensive effort, marking their seventh consecutive win this Vodacom URC season. Coach John Dobson didn't mince words about the rough start, acknowledging the Lions' early dominance.
“We missed two kick-offs and physically they were on top of us for a large portion of the game,” Dobson revealed. The team had anticipated a tough match but seemed unprepared for the Lions' aggressive play. Despite eventually securing a win, Dobson expressed frustration about the team's performance in the closing stages. “At 14 points up, we should never have made it that difficult. That’s normally something we’re very good at,” he lamented.
"There’s something in this group. We don’t have a squad full of big names. It’s just a bunch of guys willing to work for each other and do the ugly, unseen stuff."
Captain Salmaan Moerat highlighted the team's strong scrum performance as a key factor. “We’re getting a lot of reward off our scrum, which is giving us entries into the 22,” he said, giving a nod to the forwards coach Rito Hlungwani and the players for their efforts in the maul and lineout. Additionally, despite some quirky bounces possibly due to last week's motocross event, Moerat confirmed the pitch was in good condition.
Dobson was effusive in his praise for Man of the Match, Paul de Villiers, whose presence on the field was so formidable that the opposition seemed to steer clear of him. “He’s special. You could see the Lions actively avoiding him. He’s bailed us out a lot this season,” Dobson praised.
While the win keeps the Stormers at the top of the URC standings, Dobson remains cautiously optimistic. “We’re doing an amazing job, but we’re not quite there yet,” he pointed out. This match, a tough derby, provided valuable lessons that Dobson believes will only make his team stronger. With a mix of humility and ambition, the Stormers look forward to their next challenge, proving that sometimes, the beauty of rugby lies in its unpredictability and the sheer determination of an understated team.
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It was a close shave for the Stormers as they barely clung to a 34-27 victory against the Lions at Cape Town Stadium. After trailing at the break, they flipped the script in the second half, thanks to some strategic substitutions and a gritty defensive effort, marking their seventh consecutive win this Vodacom URC season. Coach John Dobson didn't mince words about the rough start, acknowledging the Lions' early dominance.
“We missed two kick-offs and physically they were on top of us for a large portion of the game,” Dobson revealed. The team had anticipated a tough match but seemed unprepared for the Lions' aggressive play. Despite eventually securing a win, Dobson expressed frustration about the team's performance in the closing stages. “At 14 points up, we should never have made it that difficult. That’s normally something we’re very good at,” he lamented.
"There’s something in this group. We don’t have a squad full of big names. It’s just a bunch of guys willing to work for each other and do the ugly, unseen stuff."
Captain Salmaan Moerat highlighted the team's strong scrum performance as a key factor. “We’re getting a lot of reward off our scrum, which is giving us entries into the 22,” he said, giving a nod to the forwards coach Rito Hlungwani and the players for their efforts in the maul and lineout. Additionally, despite some quirky bounces possibly due to last week's motocross event, Moerat confirmed the pitch was in good condition.
Dobson was effusive in his praise for Man of the Match, Paul de Villiers, whose presence on the field was so formidable that the opposition seemed to steer clear of him. “He’s special. You could see the Lions actively avoiding him. He’s bailed us out a lot this season,” Dobson praised.
While the win keeps the Stormers at the top of the URC standings, Dobson remains cautiously optimistic. “We’re doing an amazing job, but we’re not quite there yet,” he pointed out. This match, a tough derby, provided valuable lessons that Dobson believes will only make his team stronger. With a mix of humility and ambition, the Stormers look forward to their next challenge, proving that sometimes, the beauty of rugby lies in its unpredictability and the sheer determination of an understated team.