Stormers coach John Dobson might be keeping a tight lid on his complaints about his team's recent performances, but he's not fooling anyone. Despite a shaky start and a performance that was more patchwork quilt than pristine canvas, the Stormers have extended their unbeaten streak in the Vodacom URC to seven games. Their latest escapade saw them claw back from a 10-0 deficit to topple the Lions 34-27 in a Saturday spectacle at Cape Town Stadium.
“We’re still unbeaten. If you’d told me earlier in the season we’d be in this position, I’d have taken it," Dobson remarked, clearly relieved. His team showcased the kind of gritty comeback that's become their hallmark this season. "The character of this team keeps bailing us out – and that’s something to be proud of."
“A sign of a good team is that they can win even when they’re not playing well,”
Indeed, the game was far from a walk in the park. The Stormers were outmaneuvered and outmuscled for large chunks of the match, especially during a first half that saw the Lions dominate territorially. "We were under huge pressure early on and I never expected them to get so many yards so easily," Dobson admitted. "Physically they were on top of us for a large portion of that game and our carrying in the first half wasn’t good enough. To my mind, it was a poor performance."
However, true to form, the Stormers rallied in the second half, buoyed by strategic substitutions and an indomitable team spirit. "It’s not a squad full of big names – it’s a bunch of guys willing to work for each other, do the ugly things and the unseen work," Dobson praised his team's collective effort.
Just a week prior, the Stormers had managed a similar feat against La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup, marrying moments of brilliance with a smattering of errors. Dobson, reflective yet cautious, noted, "We were not quite there [against the Lions], but I must be careful about being churlish, because I wasn’t thrilled after La Rochelle either. But it still was a good win."
Dobson's gratitude toward his squad was palpable as he recounted their progress. "I thanked my players because if we’d said in September we’d be six points clear at the top of the URC log … they are doing a very good job." With the Bulls next on the docket for January 3rd, the Stormers look to carry their imperfect yet effective form into the new year.
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Stormers coach John Dobson might be keeping a tight lid on his complaints about his team's recent performances, but he's not fooling anyone. Despite a shaky start and a performance that was more patchwork quilt than pristine canvas, the Stormers have extended their unbeaten streak in the Vodacom URC to seven games. Their latest escapade saw them claw back from a 10-0 deficit to topple the Lions 34-27 in a Saturday spectacle at Cape Town Stadium.
“We’re still unbeaten. If you’d told me earlier in the season we’d be in this position, I’d have taken it," Dobson remarked, clearly relieved. His team showcased the kind of gritty comeback that's become their hallmark this season. "The character of this team keeps bailing us out – and that’s something to be proud of."
“A sign of a good team is that they can win even when they’re not playing well,”
Indeed, the game was far from a walk in the park. The Stormers were outmaneuvered and outmuscled for large chunks of the match, especially during a first half that saw the Lions dominate territorially. "We were under huge pressure early on and I never expected them to get so many yards so easily," Dobson admitted. "Physically they were on top of us for a large portion of that game and our carrying in the first half wasn’t good enough. To my mind, it was a poor performance."
However, true to form, the Stormers rallied in the second half, buoyed by strategic substitutions and an indomitable team spirit. "It’s not a squad full of big names – it’s a bunch of guys willing to work for each other, do the ugly things and the unseen work," Dobson praised his team's collective effort.
Just a week prior, the Stormers had managed a similar feat against La Rochelle in the Investec Champions Cup, marrying moments of brilliance with a smattering of errors. Dobson, reflective yet cautious, noted, "We were not quite there [against the Lions], but I must be careful about being churlish, because I wasn’t thrilled after La Rochelle either. But it still was a good win."
Dobson's gratitude toward his squad was palpable as he recounted their progress. "I thanked my players because if we’d said in September we’d be six points clear at the top of the URC log … they are doing a very good job." With the Bulls next on the docket for January 3rd, the Stormers look to carry their imperfect yet effective form into the new year.