Ahead of the clash between the DHL Stormers and Bayonne on Friday evening, DHL Stormers Director of Rugby, John Dobson, expressed confidence in his team's expanding squad depth as they start their Investec Champions Cup campaign.
The team arrived in Bayonne quickly after their recent win against Munster and immediately began preparations, as Dobson emphasised they did not want to “dwell on” the previous victory.
Dobson said that his team understands the magnitude of the challenge in Bayonne.
“We are up against a team with an impressive home record, and it will require a big performance to start this competition with a win away from home.”
“We want to be competitive in Europe. We love being part of it, and we don’t want people thinking South Africans don’t add value.”
The Stormers have won their opening six Vodacom URC matches to top the log and hope to carry that form into Europe’s top-tier club competition.
Dobson is relying on a mix of experienced and new talent for their European campaign, noting that new players have earned their spots. He views the match as a significant challenge, acknowledging the "voluble and hostile" atmosphere expected at Bayonne's home ground, Parc des Sports Jean Dauger. The team is focused on their own game plan and structures to control the game.
He continued, saying that the Stormers’ long-term project is paying off earlier than expected. “We’ve made more progress than we expected.”
“We are excited about some of the new combinations and feel we are well set up to maintain full intensity for 80 minutes on Friday night,” he said.
“If you get an away win in the Champions Cup, you’re really in the mix with two home games to come, so we’re absolutely giving this competition a real go.”
“If you looked at a team sheet six weeks ago with guys like Dylan Maart, Clinton Swart, Imad Khan or Connor Evans, you wouldn’t say that’s a top Stormers outfit. Yet I sit here with full confidence they can win. It shows how well the project is growing.”