Storming into Belfast with their eyes set on a slow but sure victory, the Stormers are all geared up to take on Ulster this coming Friday. Fresh from their dominant win over the Glasgow Warriors, which catapulted them to the top of the Vodacom URC log, Coach John Dobson and his team are riding high. However, memories of last season’s collapse against Ulster, where they squandered an early 17-0 lead to lose 38-34, still haunt them.
“We had a great start last time but fell apart,” Captain Deon Fourie said, reflecting on the previous encounter. He emphasized the team's evolution, stating,
“We looked at that game again and saw what we did well and also what we did wrong. But we have definitely evolved a lot as a team from last season to now.”
Learning from the past, Dobson pointed out the effectiveness of their strategy in northern conditions, which involves wearing opponents down over time. “What’s worked for us in the northern hemisphere is that grind. We can stay in the opposition’s faces, stay in touch, and eventually our sort of poison of what we’re doing at set-piece and in other areas of the games hopefully starts to take its toll on the opposition,” he explained.
With the playoffs in sight, Fourie highlighted the importance of consistent performance. “To be a championship team, you can’t have one good week and then go off-plan the next week. We need to build on what we did against Glasgow.”
The challenge of containing Ulster, who are bolstered by their recent qualification for the EPCR Challenge Cup final, looms large. A key focus for the Stormers will be stopping former teammate Juarno Augustus, known affectionately as Trokkie. Dobson acknowledged his threat, saying,
“We can’t let Trokkie get momentum. He’s a massive player for them. His carries close to the line and his role in the pick-and-go game are huge threats for us.”
Despite concerns about the physical toll of playing on artificial surfaces, Dobson is confident about their tactical approach for the upcoming match. “I don’t think I’ve seen the team this aligned as to how we want to play this week,” he stated.
The Stormers seem poised to deliver what Dobson describes as "slow poison" in their upcoming clash, aiming to solidify their status as title contenders while avenging last season's heartbreak. With the team's alignment and strategy clear, Friday's match in Belfast is set to be a crucial showdown in their championship chase.
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Storming into Belfast with their eyes set on a slow but sure victory, the Stormers are all geared up to take on Ulster this coming Friday. Fresh from their dominant win over the Glasgow Warriors, which catapulted them to the top of the Vodacom URC log, Coach John Dobson and his team are riding high. However, memories of last season’s collapse against Ulster, where they squandered an early 17-0 lead to lose 38-34, still haunt them.
“We had a great start last time but fell apart,” Captain Deon Fourie said, reflecting on the previous encounter. He emphasized the team's evolution, stating,
“We looked at that game again and saw what we did well and also what we did wrong. But we have definitely evolved a lot as a team from last season to now.”
Learning from the past, Dobson pointed out the effectiveness of their strategy in northern conditions, which involves wearing opponents down over time. “What’s worked for us in the northern hemisphere is that grind. We can stay in the opposition’s faces, stay in touch, and eventually our sort of poison of what we’re doing at set-piece and in other areas of the games hopefully starts to take its toll on the opposition,” he explained.
With the playoffs in sight, Fourie highlighted the importance of consistent performance. “To be a championship team, you can’t have one good week and then go off-plan the next week. We need to build on what we did against Glasgow.”
The challenge of containing Ulster, who are bolstered by their recent qualification for the EPCR Challenge Cup final, looms large. A key focus for the Stormers will be stopping former teammate Juarno Augustus, known affectionately as Trokkie. Dobson acknowledged his threat, saying,
“We can’t let Trokkie get momentum. He’s a massive player for them. His carries close to the line and his role in the pick-and-go game are huge threats for us.”
Despite concerns about the physical toll of playing on artificial surfaces, Dobson is confident about their tactical approach for the upcoming match. “I don’t think I’ve seen the team this aligned as to how we want to play this week,” he stated.
The Stormers seem poised to deliver what Dobson describes as "slow poison" in their upcoming clash, aiming to solidify their status as title contenders while avenging last season's heartbreak. With the team's alignment and strategy clear, Friday's match in Belfast is set to be a crucial showdown in their championship chase.
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