Saturday, 3 October 2026
A completely dysfunctional set-piece condemned the DHL Stormers to a 17–13 defeat against Edinburgh Rugby at Hive Stadium last night, with Director of Rugby John Dobson pinning the blame squarely on a nightmare performance at the lineout.
The Cape side coughed up possession a staggering 11 times from their own throws, completely neutralising a dominant scrum display. The costly errors stalled their United Rugby Championship tour momentum, leaving the visitors with just a single losing bonus point.
"From our side, we don't have to look too much beyond our performance in the lineout," a frustrated Dobson remarked post-match. "We lost 11, and you can't win a game if your plan in those conditions is based around the maul. You’re just giving up possession, which is devastating with the wind and into the wind. So, very disappointing, given our plan for the game."
A howling Scottish wind dictated terms during a brutal, low-scoring opening half. The Capetonians were caught off guard by the sudden weather turn after enjoying good conditions all week. "The conditions took us by surprise because the weather has been so good," the coach added. "It stopped raining, but there was a strong wind that we went into in the first half."
The Stormers' set-piece faltered early, coughing up seven lineouts before the interval and losing starting hooker André-Hugo Venter midway through the opening stanza due to a failed HIA. Replacement Vernon Paulo took over the throwing duties under immense pressure. "The loss of Vennas was a big loss, not just lineout-wise; he’s one of our best players," Dobson explained. "It was frustrating that he wasn’t allowed to return to the field, but that’s the protocol, so we have to respect that."
Solid defensive scrambling kept the damage to a minimum despite the structural disruption. "Despite the lost lineouts, to be only 3-0 down at half-time and then get the lead," Dobson noted. The contest sparked to life after the break as young flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed slotted two penalties to briefly nudge the Stormers ahead. Edinburgh hit back through a close-range score from replacement prop Paul Hill, but the Capetonians responded in kind when eighthman Hacjivah Dayimani powered over off a punishing five-metre scrum.
The decisive blow landed in the 71st minute when teenage fullback Rory McHaffie exploited space out wide to score in the corner on his home debut. "Then there were one or two poor moments of discipline at the breakdown, and they converted every opportunity they got," Dobson lamented. The Stormers engineered one final opportunity to snatch victory with a late attacking throw, but another handling error at the set-piece sealed their fate.
The defeat leaves the squad hunting for a historic first-ever franchise win on Scottish soil. "I suppose we take six points from the tour, but this is a game we probably should have won," Dobson conceded. The Stormers will now return home to South Africa to regroup ahead of next Saturday's crucial coastal derby against the Sharks.